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From elder exploitation to million-dollar theft: Meet the agents on the NSW ‘Name and Shame’ list
From accusations of serial underquoting and theft to taking advantage of the elderly, here are some of the acts that landed agents on the NSW Fair Trading’s new “Name and Shame” list.
While most industry professionals uphold high standards, some will do anything to get ahead, leading the NSW government to launch a “Name and Shame” platform to publicly expose dodgy real estate agents.
The new platform followed a busy year for the watchdog, which completed 500 investigations and 300 inspections, resulting in 300 penalty notices worth more than $430,000.
From alleged accusations of underquoting, fraud, exploiting the elderly, misusing funds, and other serious misconduct, here are some of the acts that landed agents on NSW Fair Trading’s new “Name and Shame” list.
Rachelle Carmen Nohra
Nohra was disqualified for a period of three years and imposed with an $11,000 fine after buying a property from an elderly man with Alzheimer’s for $500,000 below market value.
In a sworn statement to the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of NSW, Nohra had developed a friendship with the elderly man, having dinner together on a weekly basis.
She offered to purchase the home for $600,000, despite the similar home next door selling for $1.1 million, with the condition that the retired man could continue to live in the property.
Senior member of the Tribunal, Lachlan Bryant, said that Nohra did not appear to understand that there was a conflict between her own interests and the retiree’s vulnerability to exploitation when she purchased the property.
“The applicant’s lack of insight into such basic matters is of serious concern to the Tribunal,” Bryant said.
Aron John Degotardi
Degotardi allegedly fleeced landlords and tourists out of more than $550,000 before being permanently disqualified from the industry.
He allegedly took rent from travellers in advance, even though the accommodation was not available, and then failed to hand it over to home owners.
Some landlords reported missing out on upwards of $40,000 owed by Degotardi.
He was arrested in early 2025 as part of an investigation by Strike Force Woodarra into a “significant number of fraud reports” involving the letting of holiday rentals between Manly and Palm Beach.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and was subsequently jailed for two years, with a nine-month non-parole period.
Degotardi has since lodged an appeal against the severity of the sentence, and his case is set to be heard in early 2026.
Josh Tesolin
Tesolin was known as one of Australia’s top-selling agents before being suspended by NSW Fair Trading for alleged breaches of underquoting on more than 100 properties, dummy bidding, and the production of false documents.
He was initially suspended for 120 days, which was due to conclude in December 2025, before his suspension was extended by a further 120 days due to the ongoing investigations into the alleged breaches.
Tesolin was issued a show-cause notice by the state’s regulatory body and given until 27 January to provide evidence of why disciplinary action should not be taken.
The notice further alleges that Tesolin continued operating as a real estate agent while his licence was suspended, prompting regulators to extend the suspension.
“NSW Fair Trading has determined that Mr Tesolin may have engaged in incidences of underquoting and breaching the rules of conduct in relation to the offering of a ‘commission incentivising scheme,’” a spokesperson said.
“The show cause notice further alleges that Mr Tesolin was carrying on the business of a real estate agent when his licence was suspended.”
Jessica Marrie Carah
Carah was permanently disqualified from the property and strata industry following allegations of converting strata funds into her own personal account, totaling $2 million.
An investigation by NSW Fair Trading alleged that Carah performed almost 400 fraudulent transactions involving 66 individual strata schemes between February and December 2024.
As part of the investigation, the watchdog alleged that Carah converted over $200,000 from one scheme, whilst also transacting more than $100,000 from several others.
The industry regulator elected to cancel her licence in December 2025 and permanently disqualify her from future property or strata roles.
Fair Trading commissioner and acting Strata and Property Services commissioner Natasha Mann said Carah’s misconduct cannot be allowed to stand in the property industry.
“This case is disturbing,” Mann said.
“NSW Fair Trading is ensuring people like this are removed from the industry so that consumers are protected.”
Jinyu (Sarah) Zhou
Zhou had her licence cancelled and was disqualified for five years after alleged claims that she failed to provide buyers with documents regarding building strata defects.
A Fair Trading spokesperson told REB that the watchdog had received a complaint about a property sold by Zhou, prompting the investigation.
“The withheld documents related to the property’s waterproofing, fire safety systems, building drainage and other essential services.”
“Lifting industry standards and consumer confidence in the real estate industry is a regulatory priority for NSW Fair Trading.”
Since having her licence cancelled, Zhou has taken the Commissioner for Fair Trading to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s occupational division, successfully securing an interim stay order.