A disgraced Melbourne solicitor who admitted money laundering "should have known better", a judge said as he jailed him for at least 21 months.
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John Anile, 60, was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday to a maximum of three years behind bars with a non-parole period of 21 months after he pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering.
The court was told Anile was given $400,000 in 1994 by an alleged criminal, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and the money was used to buy land in Williamstown.
Almost 20 years later, police began investigating Anile after he was secretly recorded by a witness talking about the cash.
"I know exactly where the f***ing money came from," Anile was recorded saying in 2013.
"I will never tell you where the money came from. You can put a gun to my head and I will never tell you. All I can tell you is that the $400,000 cash was a small proportion of it."
In another conversation, he told the witness the alleged criminal could "go to jail for 25 years" if police found out where the money came from.
"If (he) knew that I told you just about the money, he'd probably put a bullet in my head, and I haven't even told you where it came from," he said.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Michael O'Connell said the crime was aggravated by Anile's standing as a solicitor.
"As a legal practitioner, particularly one with some criminal law experience, you should have well understood how money laundering enables and encourages serious criminal activity," the judge said.
"In other words, you should have known better".
Judge O'Connell, however, acknowledged the "heavy price" Anile has already paid for the crime, including the loss of his Williamstown practice, reputation and assets.
He said Anile migrated to Australia from Italy as a child and along with his success, he continued to give a great deal back to the community, including pro bono work for disadvantaged clients.
The solicitor was first jailed over the Williamstown property purchase in 2017 before he successfully appealed his conviction.
Anile pleaded guilty three days into a retrial in 2019. A second charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception was dropped as part of the plea deal.
At the 2017 trial, several prominent figures vouched for Anile's good character, including then Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood, News Corp journalist Kate Legge and barrister Aaron Shwartz.
With 432 days already served, Anile will be eligible for parole in about six months.
His wife Adele and daughter sobbed as he was taken from court.
Australian Associated Press
