Prison sentence for Christchurch man in major fraud case

On 16 September 2026, Leyton James Taylor, also known as Michael George Ringdahl, was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court for wage subsidy fraud worth more than $120,000 and for supplier fraud involving more than $26,000.

Taylor used numerous aliases to submit 39 fraudulent wage subsidy applications between April 2020 and March 2021, exploiting the high‑trust nature of the Government’s pandemic support schemes.

Eight of those applications were approved, resulting in payments totalling $39,834.40. A further $84,233.60 was sought through unsuccessful applications.

Taylor carried out the offending using a series of aliases and business names, using different identities across the applications, further masking his activity.

Taylor claimed to operate as a sole trader or employer through companies that were not trading or had no employees. He also submitted applications using the details of real companies and individuals without their knowledge or consent.

All payments were directed to accounts under his control, and none of the funds reached any legitimate business or employee.

The court heard that once payments were received, Taylor quickly transferred the money between his accounts and spent it on personal expenses, cash withdrawals, online gambling, and transfers to third parties.

In separate supplier fraud offending, Taylor used a fraudulently registered landlord supplier and false tenancy information to obtain more than $26,000 in bond and rent assistance payments.

This sentencing also reflects one representative charge under the Companies Act 1993 of being a company director when prohibited.

Taylor has previously appeared before the courts.

A total of 73 people have been sentenced in wage subsidy cases, and another 36 people are still before the courts as part of MSD’s programme of work on wage subsidy fraud and integrity. Since the scheme started, more than $837 million* in wage subsidies has been repaid.

For more information about the Wage Subsidy Integrity and Fraud Programme please see here.

*Figures at 30 June 2026