John Killick, famously plucked from jail by chopper, facing fraud charges

Mrs Killick, who was at home when detectives searched the apartment, allowed her former husband to move into her home when he was paroled in 2014 after spending 15 years behind bars for escaping the maximum security facility in a helicopter commandeered by his Russian girlfriend.

Breakout

In March 1999, Lucy Dudko hijacked a chopper during a joy-ride over Sydney and forced pilot Timothy Joyce to land inside the prison where her lover languished, convicted of numerous armed robberies.

The helicopter plucked Killick from the exercise yard, avoiding a hail of bullets fired by the prison's guards in what was one of the most daring prisons breaks in Australian history.

The couple then spent six weeks on the run, eluding police nationwide until their dramatic arrest in a Sydney caravan park.

Dudko was sentenced to 10 years at Mulawa Women's Prison, while Killick was returned to jail for a further 15 years.

Luxury spend-up

Investigators say the alleged fraudsters stole identity details from real people, then created more than 300 online bank accounts using a combination of the stolen details and fake ones to create new identities.

These bank accounts, police say, were then used to apply for credit cards and loans to a total value of more than $2 million. The credit cards were also used to withdraw cash and make high-end purchases in a scam across the city that lasted more than nine months.

Police have seized luxury cars, designer watches, high-end household items and over $250,000 cash from a Sydney bank vault in connection to the alleged fraud syndicate.

Police allege that Wiley Park man Dean Ryan, 46, ran the syndicate and have charged him with a slew of fraud-related offences. His partner Linda Loriz, 42, was also charged in connection to the alleged syndicate, as were Mascot couple Joseph La Hood, 56, and Rachel Jim, 39. Both men remain behind bars, while their partners have been bailed.

Amy Holden, 28, was also charged when police raided her Bondi Beach apartment and seized items suspected to be the proceeds of crime including her high-end fridge.'

'A changed man'

Killick was granted conditional bail by police, and will appear before Central Local Court on October 11.

Speaking to reporters in 2014, Killick's lawyer was adamant the convicted bank robber is a changed man.

“The great thing about jails is they make these inmates go through these groups where they talk about what they’ve done and they reflect back,” Eidan Havas said.

"You can be certain that when he does return ... he can begin to get his life together and get remarried to Gloria and contribute positively to society."

Last year, he released a book detailing his prison escape. Mr Killick did not return The Herald's calls on Wednesday.