A man who forged the will and other documents of a deceased Hargraves man in order to make himself the sole beneficiary of all of his property, pleaded guilty to the charges in Dubbo District Court last week.
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Jake Andrew Silvestro - previously known as Jason Glenn Parsons – pleaded guilty to five counts of making a false instrument to obtain property and two counts of hindering an investigation into a serious indictable offence.
In October 2011 Mudgee Detectives began investigating the legitimacy of two wills submitted to local solicitors in relation to a recently deceased Hargraves man.
The first will was rejected as it was only signed by one witness who was too close to the beneficiary Silvestro, so a second will was produced with the signatures of two more witnesses.
Expert analysis revealed that the deceased man’s signature was forged. The witnesses later told detectives that they had never met the man and signed the will on the request of Silvestro.
Through the course of the investigation police seized computers and storage devices and analysis indicated that there were forged wills and other documents aimed at illegally obtaining the deceased property.
Examinations also found the Google searches “how to make a will in Australia” and “is a will valid with one witness”.
Investigators also found the signature of the deceased man on the RTA registration transfer of his vehicle was forged.
The hard document of the will was created three days after the death of the man.
Silvestro stood to gain everything the man owned, including his house, property, and share in a mining company based in the area.
It was understood that he was little more than an acquaintance of the deceased.
Silvestro is listed for sentence in Dubbo District Court in February 2015.
Local police are also investigating the destruction of the deceased man’s house by fire in 2011 and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
