Shanel Tofaeono, one of the key figures in an alleged staged robbery scheme at a luxury jewellery store in Sydney, has been sentenced to prison.
The plot, allegedly orchestrated by jeweller Michel Germani, involved faking a $2.8 million heist at Germani’s Hilton Hotel store in January 2022.
Tofaeono, who pleaded guilty, received a sentence of four years and seven months for his role in the incident, which involved terrorising a store employee to make the staged robbery appear authentic.
The Staged Robbery
According to court findings, Tofaeono, along with co-accused Mounir Helou, executed the mock burglary by threatening and restraining a store employee. The jewellery store’s safe was emptied, and Tofaeono played a crucial role in ensuring the scene looked convincing enough to deceive authorities and insurers. The operation lasted 11 minutes before the perpetrators fled, exchanging bags of jewellery and attempting to escape unnoticed.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Tofaeono was the only participant among six accused to plead guilty, leading to a discounted sentence. He admitted to charges of detaining a person in company to commit a serious indictable offence and attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception.
The other accused, including Germani, his wife Coco, and accomplices Andrea David Cusumano and Giulia Penna, have all pleaded not guilty and are set to face a joint trial in May 2025.
