Justin vanished after being accused of stealing $500k from his employer to fund his ‘serious drug habit’. Now he’s back – and is keeping some VERY interesting company…
Last year, he mysteriously disappeared when confronted with severe accusations of theft, yet now, it appears that Justin McKeone has been appearing quite frequently in various places.
Just under a week following the announcement by the man in financial turmoil that he was expecting a child, he has been seen socializing with popular news figure, Kristin Fisher.
On Sunday, images surfaced on the personal Instagram account of the “eyebrow queen,” showing the pair. McKeone was captured without a shirt, while Kristin donned a chic black swimsuit.
On a delightfully sunny day, the duo spent time with an additional companion in an intriguingly unconventional excursion (we couldn’t help but add that touch of humor).
Previously, Fisher, the proprietor of a flourishing salon in Double Bay, has dismissed speculations about any deeper relationship beyond friendship with ‘Juzzy’. Daily Mail Australia maintains this stance as well.
In 2023, she lamented, “Why can’t men and women maintain friendships without all the unnecessary drama?” This was her response to the unwarranted rumors suggesting a romantic relationship between them, following McKeone’s separation from his ex-wife, Olivia Molly Rogers, the former Miss Australia.
Regardless of the severe accusations that he embezzled $481,490 from his previous job and admitted to having a significant drug problem, McKeone appears to carry on with routine activities in his daily life.
On the very first day of the new year, he shared on social media that him and his girlfriend Tahnee Leeson from “The Bachelor” were anticipating their first child together.
Embracing fatherhood in the midst of preparations for a legal battle with my previous workplace in 2025, I find myself navigating two significant challenges at once. This dual journey, however, is not without its unique lessons and insights that I am eager to share as a lifestyle expert.
It’s possible that Fisher’s past legal troubles, which involved being arrested for cocaine possession in 2021 and initially convicted but subsequently having the verdict overturned, were a subject of discussion on Sunday.
When the beautician stood before Waverley Local Court in October that year to seek the annulment of her conviction, Magistrate Ross Hudson chose to deliver a stern reprimand instead.
He made it clear to Fisher that wealth and living in the fashionable east side neighborhoods doesn’t grant immunity from the law, as he didn’t mince words when reminding her of this fact.
As I stand before Magistrate Hudson, I recall nodding in acknowledgment when he posed the question about the swift ruination of one’s good name by poor decisions.
Following her stern scolding upon being discovered with two bags of cocaine at her feet in the passenger side of a suspected drug dealer’s vehicle, Fisher finally received what she had asked for.
In simpler terms, the woman with two children received a six-month probationary sentence on the condition that she abstains from drug use for this period. If she manages to stay clean, she will not be convicted.
After three years, a repentant Fisher has managed to stay clear of legal issues, and maybe she could share some guidance with McKeone as he readies himself for dealing with the legal system.
When asked about her friendship with McKeone, who’s anticipated to appear in court this year, Fisher responded sharply: “Please exclude me from any of your articles. I prefer not to be mentioned.
McKeone, a regular on society columns due to his short-lived marriage with Rogers, made news in November, as he mysteriously disappeared before his court appearance at the Supreme Court of Victoria was set to take place.
According to subsequent court records, it was established that he moved to the town of Scarborough, located to the north-east of Perth. Shortly following this disclosure, he made public the happy news of his girlfriend’s pregnancy.
McKeone and Leeson started a relationship with periods of separation following McKeone’s divorce from Rogers.
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McKeone and Leeson restarted their relationship intermittently, after McKeone’s divorce from Rogers.
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Following his divorce from Rogers, there were times when McKeone and Leeson resumed a relationship on and off.
In July, Leeson stated that she and McKeone were not back together, describing them as “just friends,” despite her social media suggesting otherwise.
Their pregnancy announcement arrives during allegations that McKeone embezzled a substantial sum, estimated to be around hundreds of thousands of dollars, from his former employer, where he was employed as a financial manager in Melbourne.
As per court records, it’s alleged that he took approximately $481,490.33 while serving as the Head of Finance for a period of five months at Rocket Brands (Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd).
On December 5, McKeone was scheduled for a court appearance regarding a civil petition seeking a freeze on his assets. However, he did not show up for the hearing.
On November 11, McKeone’s last known communication with his legal representatives was received, as they were now representing his previous job. This information was brought to the court’s attention.
Over the course of the trial’s progression, McKeone decided to leave and journey back to his native Western Australia, where he resided.
He has engaged Melbourne powerhouse legal firm Galbally & O’Bryan to represent him.
Previously, the court mandated a hold on all assets belonging to McKeone that corresponded to the sum Rocket Brands asserted was stolen by him during the period from May 23rd to October 6th.
That order was due to expire weeks ago, but was extended in McKeone’s absence.
In the court proceedings, it was revealed that McKeone, a former associate of Melbourne’s elite circle, had only about $800 per week for everyday living expenses and a total of $10,000 available to cover any potential legal fees.
McKeone joined Rocket Brands in March last year on a $200,000 annual salary.
However, only a few weeks into his trial period, it seems there were worries expressed by staff regarding his unpredictable actions.
Testimony presented at the trial suggested that Matthew Holmes, a Rocket Brands director, had been informed by coworkers of McKeone’s habit of napping in the office restrooms for extended periods (up to four hours daily), taking prolonged lunch breaks, and often abandoning his work duties without finishing them.
Additional proof presented in court suggested that McKeone confessed to the theft when Holmes confronted him around mid-October, according to court documents acquired by Daily Mail Australia.
At the gathering, the testimony presented in court suggested that McKeone admitted to misappropriating funds to support a severe drug addiction, and he assured Holmes that he would make every effort to reimburse the company.
At the recent court hearing last month, lawyer Kieren Hickie, representing Rocket Brands, urged the court to expand the freeze order to cover any foreign assets that McKeone may be concealing overseas.
The court learned that McKeone neglected to fulfill a required ‘notification about disclosure,’ which was supposed to be submitted by November 24, even though he had promised to hire a lawyer to represent him.
In simpler terms, Rocket Brands requested Intermediate Judge Peter Gray to render a preliminary decision – one that doesn’t decide the entire case but rather addresses part of the dispute or an aspect of the claim. This preliminary decision was in favor of Rocket Brands, granting them the full amount they sought as restitution and also covering their legal fees.
According to Mr. Hickie, my client intends to move forward by asking for a preliminary judgment to be made against the defendant, and the amount of damages will be determined later.
The company also asked that its legal costs be borne by McKeone – a request that was later granted.
In today’s proceedings, it appears that the defendant has failed to submit a response. A fair, prompt, and economical resolution for this case could be achieved by entering an interlocutory judgment, as suggested by Mr. Hickie.
114 suspicious transactions, which were not authorized, are claimed to have been concealed by McKeone as valid vendor payments, with the purpose of transferring corporate funds into his private bank account, allegedly for supporting a drug habit.
This new version aims to make the text more engaging and easier to understand while maintaining the original meaning.
Court documents claim that McKeone is accused of leveraging his unique access to Rocket’s financial network to authorize and handle the transactions.
The sworn statement claims that McKeone falsified invoices, making it appear as though payments were being made to companies such as ‘Storage King’ and ‘Net Focus IT’. In reality, he was routing the funds into his personal Westpac bank account instead.
The images presented to the court appear to depict McKeone modifying and endorsing suspicious transactions, which are claimed to be fraudulent, through the Xero software system. However, Holmes asserted that he did not approve any of these payments.
It is said that the suspected theft was disguised within Rocket Company’s financial records as ‘historical modifications,’ amounting to $310,878. This deception has added complexity to the task of locating the misplaced money in their accounts.
Holmes reported the alleged theft to Victoria Police on October 14.
On November 6, investigators from the Yarra Criminal Investigation Team spoke with McKeone, however, no formal charges have been filed at this point in time as the probe is ongoing.
In the court case involving civil law, Rocket Brands is demanding complete reimbursement and alleges that McKeone violated his responsibilities as a high-ranking manager.
In legal papers, the company characterizes the suspected actions as carefully planned and harmful, asserting that the alleged embezzlement resulted in substantial financial setbacks.
According to the court document, it’s claimed that McKeone’s actions constituted a serious violation of trust, and the company can’t believe his assertion that there’s no more money in his accounts.
Justice Gray has prolonged the freeze on the case until April of next year, with a trial now anticipated to take place.
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2025-01-06 17:49