Daughter of former ATO Deputy Commissioner Lauren Cranston found guilty of fraud

The daughter of a former deputy tax chief has collapsed in court after being found guilty of her involvement in a massive tax fraud.

Lauren Anne Cranston was found guilty of conspiring to cause loss to the Commonwealth and conspiring to deal with the proceeds of crime worth more than $1 million for her role in the Plutus Payroll scandal.

She was arrested along with her older brother Adam Cranston and several others in 2017.

Following a trial in NSW High Court that began in April 2022, the jury was dispatched in mid-January to consider its verdict.

They returned the two guilty verdicts Monday afternoon.

Lauren Anne Cranston (pictured) has been found guilty of conspiring to cause loss to the Commonwealth and conspiring to deal with the proceeds of crimes worth more than $1 million

Cranston sobbed in court when she learned of the guilty verdict.

She remains on bail pending a request for detention Tuesday.

Three other co-defendants were found guilty last week.

The jury is still considering the verdict for a fourth.

Jurors in the lengthy trial were told that Plutus financial services group withheld tax from the Australian Revenue Commissioner, which uses a number of second-tier companies.

The fraudulently obtained money funded lavish lifestyles including fast cars, airplanes and real estate.

Lauren was arrested in 2017 along with her older brother Adam (pictured). The jury heard that she once had an argument with her brother about buying a Hyundai she wanted because he wanted to buy her a Porsche

The siblings are the children of a former Deputy Commissioner for the Inland Revenue, Michael Cranston (pictured). The jury heard that Adam used his father to find out if the IRS knew about their plan

The jury was told that Cranston, whose only other work experience was working in a supermarket, had once fought with her older brother over buying a Hyundai, which she wanted because he wanted to buy her a Porsche.

Adam Cranston would use his father, Michael Cranston, then the ATO’s deputy commissioner, to find out if the IRS knew of their scheme, the jury heard.

The five defendants denied their guilt, blamed each other and said they believed the company Plutus, named after the Greek god of abundance and wealth, to be a legitimate company.