Brisbane real estate agent sentenced to more than four years’ jail for fraud
- Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation results in a Brisbane real estate agent receiving a 4.5-year jail term for offences of fraud.
- The Alexandra Hills property manager took more than $131,000 of clients' money.
- More than $116,000 was siphoned off in almost 200 transfers to multiple bank accounts.
- Former tenants paid more than $15,000 into the agent’s personal bank account.
A Brisbane real estate agent who siphoned more than $131,000 from her clients was last Wednesday (18 March 2026) sentenced to a 4.5-year jail term after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud in the Brisbane District Court.
Property manager Michelle Margaret Cooke was charged with three counts of fraud following a thorough investigation by the OFT.
Judge Terry Gardiner delivered Cooke a 4.5-year jail term, suspended after serving eight months in custody, in relation to two counts of fraud for manipulating records to take $116,376 in almost 200 transfers.
She was also sentenced to two years’ jail, suspended after serving eight months, for one count of fraud for instructing former tenants to pay ‘break lease’ fees and utility bills into her own personal bank account.
All terms of imprisonment were ordered to be served concurrently.
Cooke has now repaid $54,517 of the misappropriated funds, but more than $77,000 is still owed.
The court heard that between January 2013 and June 2020, Cooke manipulated real estate trust accounting software to make 196 transfers to bank accounts belonging to her or her family members.
Between October 2016 and August 2020, Cooke also contacted former tenants and instructed them to pay break lease fees or outstanding utilities accounts, resulting in 32 deposits totalling more than $15,000 being transferred to her personal accounts.
Acting Fair Trading Commissioner Craig Turner said Queensland renters and property owners expect real estate agents to handle their money properly and obey the law.
“Real estate professionals are trusted by the community to work with large sums of other people’s money, so it is essential they follow appropriate processes at all times,” Mr Turner said.
“Any real estate agent who takes money from a trust account without proper authority is committing a crime.
“The Office of Fair Trading will continue to take action against dishonest property agents who are breaking the law.”
If you believe an agent has been mishandling trust money you can lodge a complaint with the OFT online or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
ENDS
Media contact: media.relations@justice.qld.gov.au
All other enquiries: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)