A former police officer who swindled a pensioner out of millions of dollars with dodgy documents he was selling on the dark web dobbed in his own scheme.
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Self-proclaimed "super pedantic" forger James Goris pleaded guilty to a raft of charges in the Victorian County Court on Monday.
The 46-year-old admitted to one count each of using false documents, obtaining property by deception and making identification information and child pornography.
Goris assumed the identity of pensioner Kenneth Holt, creating false documents and a post office box in the man's name to assume control of his share portfolio, prosecutor Penny Thorp said.
He transferred $3,355,609.35 worth of shares to a company he controlled as a director, without Mr Holt's knowledge.
Documents including details of the victim's family members, land title and ancestry searches were discovered when police raided Goris' Castlemaine property in November 2016.
And while Goris was assuming control of the share portfolio, he was also using the dark web to sell falsified police and other security identity documents.
Under the username "PirateDeadpool" he sold Victoria Police badges, ID badges and wallets as well as aviation and maritime security passes in exchange for Bitcoin.
Goris claimed online he was super pedantic and had spent a lifetime forging documents.
On the dark web he enticed others to "use their imagination" when putting the fake identity documents to use, the prosecution said.
He also advised impostors planning to use fake IDs to "look the part", the court was told.
Undercover police contacted Goris to buy documents on multiple occasions but in a twist he tipped off Crime Stoppers about some of the sales.
Goris' lawyer argued he did not have a "great wish" for people to use the documents but rather he did it for the money.
Judge Frank Gucciardo said it was an understatement to call the behaviour "odd".
"The notification (to Crime Stoppers) is difficult to explain. It's odd behaviour," Judge Gucciardo said.
"It may just be part of a twisted moral compass that seems to play good and bad cop at the same time and I'm not going to guess at either."
Prosecutors have sought a custodial sentence, which the defence did not dispute.
Goris was remanded for sentencing on March 6.
Australian Associated Press
