A LUXURY vehicle was seized from a Woomelang address during a series of police raids in the Mallee and two Melbourne suburbs this week.
The raids at Woomelang, Sea Lake, Altona and Laverton on Monday followed an investigation by criminal proceeds squad detectives into complaints about an investment scheme that had allegedly scammed more than $1 million from multiple victims.
Raymond John Tweedly, 64, of Altona, faces charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Police alleged Mr Tweedly worked with an accomplice, who posed as a lawyer to legitimise the scam, and used the money handed over by his victims for personal financial gain.
Police said Mr Tweedly faked documents, emails and text messages to persuade the victims to “invest” in his scheme and were continuing to investigate whether he had begun targeting other people for a second investment scam.
During the raids, investigators seized a BMW X5 vehicle from Woomelang, a Mercedes-Benz AMG from Altona and a high-end commercial coffee machine.
The investigation began last December when police received a tip-off about unexplained wealth.
A 41-year-old Laverton man questioned after the raids was released pending further inquiries.
Mr Tweedly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was remanded to reappear in October.
