We’ve written about dodgy promoters and even artists looking to make a sly buck off Australia’s events industry before, but now a US reality TV star has pleaded guilty to violating currency reporting laws and one charge of bankruptcy fraud after an Australian tour.
As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Abby Lee Miller, the founder of Dance Moms, admitted to failing to report more than $10,000 worth of Australian currency that was smuggled into the US after she completed a dance tour of Australia in 2014.
Miller and a troupe of dancers hosted masterclasses and meet-and-greets at convention centres in Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast, and Perth, charging up to $179 for young dancers and $59 for supervising parents. Merchandise was also available for purchase.
Miller is now in hot water, with a bankruptcy fraud indictment alleging she hid $US755,000 ($1.021 million) worth of TV earnings and prosecutors have accused her of attempting to smuggle $US120,000 ($160,000) in her employees’ luggage.
If found guilty of the new charges she faces an extra $US250,000 fine and five years in jail. Miller originally faced 20 criminal counts of bankruptcy fraud and concealing assets that carried a $US5 million fine and five years imprisonment.
Prosecutors are currently seeking more than two years jail, whilst Miller’s lawyers are asking for a maximum of six months behind bars. She is set to be sentenced in October.
