A former Melbourne real estate agent has been sentenced to five years in jail for stealing more than $6 million of client funds and spending the money on jewellery, drugs and other personal items.
Until April 2016, Joseph Tri Ngo, 37, and his wife Judy Nguyen ran six LJ Hooker branches in Melbourne, including offices in Box Hill and Doncaster.
In November Ngo pleaded guilty to 48 charges of diverting sales and rental deposits into his personal accounts between January 2015 and March 2016.
He spent more than $300,000 on the drug ice, as well as about $100,000 on jewellery from high-end store Tiffany & Co.
In sentencing, County Court Judge Michael Bourke told Ngo his actions were "serious" and "harmful" and that he had "badly breached the trust" of many clients.
"Monies were used by you for what I find to be general lifestyle benefit," Judge Bourke told Ngo
"That seems to have included clothing, jewellery and your own heavy drug habit."
The court heard Ngo had sold properties to pay back the money, but still owed $2.1 million to clients.
The court heard Ngo had suffered from a "schizoaffective disorder" for 12 to 15 years that had caused mood swings and delusional and paranoid behaviour.
Judge Bourke said the "major offending occurred when you were abusing substances".
He also pointed to Ngo's prior criminal history in his 20s when he was convicted of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and heroin trafficking.
"You do not have the benefit of an umblemished character," Judge Bourke told him.
Ngo will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served at least three years.
He has been ordered to pay back the money still owed to clients.
