An Instagram influencer admitted to using her job at a government health agency to help a drug dealer obtain cell phones through identity theft.
Jaylie Tori Bonow, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining identifying information to facilitate an offense and one count of using a restricted computer without consent in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
Bonow, appearing by telephone from Western Australia, admitted using the Queensland Health computer system while working in payroll services to obtain details of three driver’s licences.
It comes two months after Bonow faced criticism after posting a video about feeding a whole cooked chicken to a wild crocodile in far north Queensland.
The court was previously told Bonow obtained copies of the licenses on August 24, 2017 for her then-boyfriend to use to obtain mobile phones for his drug dealing business.
Police prosecutor Laura Cook said Bonow had committed a “very dishonest offence” but had also confessed to both his employer and the police before any investigation.
“While these are serious charges, a good behavior bond or a substantial fine would serve as a deterrent,” Cook said.
Jaylie Tori Bonow, 28, (pictured) admitted using Queensland Health’s computer system while working in payroll services to obtain details of three driver’s licenses in 2017.
The influencer’s lawyer told the court that Bonow (pictured) had been in an abusive relationship and did not gain any benefit from stealing the information.
Magistrate Ross Mack said Bonow’s offense was too serious for a good behavior bond as it “goes to the heart of the integrity” of privacy protections in the health system.
“So much information is stored digitally and with that convenience comes the responsibility to protect it,” Mack said.
Defense lawyer Chelsea Waters said Bonow was young at the time of the crime, had not received any benefits and had been in an abusive relationship.
‘She fully admitted it. “I was remorseful…I was in a relationship with some level of control,” Waters said.
Mack said Bonow should have known she was providing the licenses to assist in a crime and that her employer would have trained her not to inappropriately disclose information.
“You may have succumbed to the pressure of a violent man, but you still made a decision and it was the wrong decision,” he said.
Bonow was fined $3,000 and no convictions were recorded.
In October, Bonow came under fire for boasting about feeding a roast chicken to a saltwater crocodile on the banks of the Russell River and later sharing footage of the brazen act online.
The court appearance comes two months after Bonow faced criticism for posting a video about feeding a whole cooked chicken to a wild crocodile in far north Queensland.
“I’m in far north Queensland at the moment and I thought it would be a good idea to get a whole chicken and feed it to one of the crocodiles,” he said in the video, which has since been deleted.
‘There are some really good crackers here and he loves them. Rest assured, I have stayed away from the (river) bank.
Bonow then turned his phone around to show the massive four-metre beast emerging from the water.
The daring act has led to an investigation by the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counseling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).