Black Uhlan bikie Tyrone De Luca accused of million dollar Gold Coast scam

Queensland police arrested 33-year-old Tyrone de Luca, who they allege is a member of the Black Ulhans bikie gang, over a fake investment scheme.

Another 33-year-old man, believed to have been linked to the Bandidos, is a suspect but he’s yet to be questioned.

The two men allegedly helped clone the website of a real WA investment company, M6 Treasury, and operate a cold call centre that encouraged people to invest their superannuation savings in their fake company.

Detective Inspector Phillip Stevens says it isn’t unusual for two different bikie gangs to work together.

He also says up to 30 to 40 fake call centres are operating on the Gold Coast.

“There seems to be no boundaries as to who they associate with. It’s becoming more common that criminal motorcycle gangs will do business with one another if it suits their purposes,” he told reporters.

He says the unwitting call centre workers didn’t know they were working for a front company.

“The template for these things is that the people involved in the telemarketing or the cold call centres don’t have an idea of the ultimate gain,” Det Insp Stevens said.

“Their role is to simply to make contact and to pass it on to the people who will approach the victims.”

 

Police say de Luca had worked at 11 Queensland companies over the years and officers are now looking into his other business dealings.

 

11AM: AN alleged former Gold Coast bikie is now behind bars accused of running a million-dollar money laundering scheme.

Tyrone De Luca, 33, is alleged to be a former Black Uhlan who played a key role in a fraud scam that ripped off multiple complainants through businesses known as “M6 Trading Group” and “M6 Securities Group”.

Police were alerted to the alleged scam when a number of complainants with similar stories contacted officers in January claiming to have lost thousands in failed investments.

All claimed to have been cold called by a man known as a “Graham”.

De Luca was arrested at the Nerang motorcycle store where he worked yesterday and today faced the Southport Magistrates Court still in his work uniform.

Police are expecting more arrests to follow.

Solicitor Campbell MacCallum told the court police alleged his client was a former bikie at the time and would be charged under Queensland’s new Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act.

If the charge is proven, he could face a sentence for money laundering and a mandatory add on sentence of 15 years.

In the meantime, he will have to seek bail in Brisbane in the special bail court for alleged bikies.

His case was adjourned to Brisbane for Monday.

EARLIER: AN alleged former bikie will appear in court today charged with money laundering.

The Criminal Economy Unit (CEU) and Taskforce Maxima arrested a 33-year-old male as part of their on going investigations into the M6 Security Group.

It will be alleged at the time of the man’s involvement in a fraudulent investment scheme, he was a member of the Black Uhlans Criminal Motorcycle Gang.

It is the first arrest of a CMG member in this investigation, but it is anticipated further arrests will be made in due course.

The CEU works with Federal and State partner agencies to identify and remove wealth that has been gained through illegal activities of CMGs.

To date, the CEU has been working closely with National Anti Gangs Squad as well as Federal and State authorities collating, analysing and financially profiling CMGs, their participants and associates.

Police are yet to speak with another 33-year-old man from the Gold Coast believed to be linked to the Bandidos Criminal Motorcycle Gang.

Although suspected of being a member at the time of these offences he has subsequently claimed to have handed back his colours in December 2013.

The M6 Security Group investigation relates to a fraudulent online investment scheme in which the perpetrators of the scheme leveraged off a legitimate investment company by cloning its website, taking over the persona of its directors and encouraging investors to participate in an array of investment options, all of which were being manipulated by the perpetrators to give the illusion that they were making a profit.

“We have identified a number of companies linked to these fraudulent activities. There is evidence of CMG involvement in the setting up of at least one of these companies,” Detective Inspector Phillip Stevens of Taskforce Maxima said.

“The arrest of the male person is by no means the end of these investigations; it merely forms part of a great investigative strategy.

“We will be relentless in our efforts against these criminal gangs regardless as to where they are operating in Queensland.

“These actions clearly reflect the QPS commitment to disrupting and dismantling the criminal activities of these gangs, with the goal of driving them from Queensland.”

The 33-year-old alleged former Black Uhlan will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today.