Schoolmates Plead Guilty of Betting via Leaked Australian of the Year Info
Australian high school mates Dean Young (also referred to as Dale Tristan Young) and James Dawkins have pleaded guilty in a Dandenong Magistrates Court in Melbourne to charges of placing illegal bets on the results of the Australian of the Year awards using insider information.
Three-Year Investigation
The duo faced the charges as a result of the conclusion of an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation that lasted three years.
38-year-old Young and 39-year-old Dawkins took advantage of the former’s position as a postal service worker who, at the time, was a project coordinator at Australia Post responsible for organizing the creation of special stamps to commemorate the Australian of the Year winners, to place dozens of bets on the awards.
This way, the two pocketed thousands of dollars between 2017 and 2019, according to the court hearing.
His job position allowed Young to know the winners before the awards were officially announced, as the stamps were printed before the ceremonies.
Despite the non-disclosure agreement that he had signed, Young contacted Dawkins via phone hours after learning the identities of the winners.
According to prosecutors Young counted among some 80 other employees who were given early access to the names of the winners.
Suspicious 100% Rate of Success Gave Them Away
Mount Martha’s Dawkins used the insider information to place 48 bets netting $13,302 in total on the outcome across various platforms. The list features names like Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, BetEasy, and William Hill.
In 2017, the two made $9,363 from 20 bets on biomedical scientist Alan Mackay-Sim. In 2018, they netted $2,614 after placing winning bets on quantum physicist Michelle Simmons, followed by $1,325 with bets on Thai cave rescuers Craig Challen and Richard Harris in 2019.
The duo allegedly split the winnings part of the winning streak that was observed by operators who eventually notified federal crime agencies.
The scheme came to light in a 2022 Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report that identified Dawkins as the most profitable player in the market, with a 100% rate of success and 430% in net returns.
While Young pleaded guilty to one charge of abuse of public office, his friend admitted to aiding, abetting, counseling, or procuring the abuse of public office.
According to Young’s lawyer, Stephen Schembri, his client was “extremely remorseful” for his deeds but could not explain “why he would act in such a stupid irresponsible way,” calling it “the worst thing that he’s ever done.”
Shembri added Young was “no master criminal,” and that “neither is Mr Dawkins.”
AFP detective superintendent Glenn Tod reiterated the authorities’ commitment to putting an end to major financial crime based on insider information, adding the “misuse of official or privileged information erodes public trust” in the country’s institutions.
The matter was adjourned and sentencing will take place at a later date.
