Over the years, I’ve seen countless men, heads bowed, being led from their eastern suburbs homes in handcuffs.
But few cases compare to the sheer strangeness of Jaime Charles Farrelly, who last week was frogmarched from his Double Bay apartment and slapped with a string of alarming – and bizarre – charges.
Among them was one count of impersonating a federal public official, as well as possession of prohibited firearms and supplying a prohibited drug.
The police raid of his eastern suburbs unit allegedly uncovered a stash of replica weapons, fake badges for NSW, Victorian and AFP officers, plus bogus cards bearing the insignia of America’s Secret Service, CIA and FBI.
Fake T-shirts, hats, 11 high-quality gel blasters, an LED flashlight and three model grenades, 14g of cocaine and steroids were also allegedly found. It was quite a haul.
The seizure of counterfeit law enforcement paraphernalia followed a tip-off days earlier when a member of the public handed in an AFP badge and ID card – with a small bag of cocaine tucked behind it – to Bondi Police Station.
That discovery sparked an AFP investigation that ultimately led to Farrelly’s doorstep.
But this is only the latest chapter in a chequered life for the 50-year-old failed property developer, whose reputation was mud in the ACT long before he began his alleged dodgy activity in Sydney’s east.
Disgraced property developer Jaime Charles Farrelly was led away in handcuffs last week after AFP officers raided his New South Head Road home
Farrelly, 50, has been charged with one count of impersonating a federal public official, possession of prohibited firearms, and supplying a prohibited drug
Fake T-shirts, hats, four replica firearms, 11 high-quality gel blasters, an LED flashlight and three model grenades, 14g of cocaine and steroids were also allegedly found
But while the alleged fake cop charges – described by Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty as ‘extremely concerning’ – may have shocked locals, those who know Farrelly say he’s long been living on shaky ground.
Before his run-in with the AFP, he was already on the radar of corporate regulators.
In January last year, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission slapped Farrelly with a temporary ban from managing corporations after four of his Canberra-based property development companies collapsed with more than $9million in debts, including $3million owed to the ATO.
That ban expired just one day before his dramatic arrest last week.
Farrelly, who grew up in Cooma before moving to Canberra to study architecture, once ran a successful design and construction business before his empire crumbled amid unpaid creditors and stalled projects.
He and business partner Gary Kelly were directors of several companies related to 3 Property Group, which was behind several townhouse developments in Canberra.
Reports began to surface in October 2021 that off-the-plan buyers were losing their home deals after 3 Property Group rescinded their contracts under a sunset clause.
This is not illegal, although many believe it should be – among them then ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury, who called the actions of 3 Property Group ‘unconscionable’ and said he was urgently looking for ways to change the laws.
Allegedly recovered were four replica firearms, 11 high-end gel blasters, three model grenades, steroids, and 14 grams of cocaine
The view from Farrelly’s Art Deco apartment block on New South Head Road
![Interestingly, his account on social media platform Threads was advertising a development in 'the lovely Molongo Valley [sic]' in the ACT, via Elly Property Group, as recently as last month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/10/27/05/103338229-15229453-image-a-30_1761542975926.jpg)
Interestingly, his account on social media platform Threads was advertising a development in ‘the lovely Molongo Valley [sic]’ in the ACT, via Elly Property Group, as recently as last month
In January, he used Threads to engage in a series of puzzling online exchanges with a younger Asian woman. Farrelly appeared to use a lost Harry Potter journal as an opening gambit
The ugly headlines were a far cry from a 2017 puff piece, published in a local outlet, that sang the praises of 3 Property Group for including a ‘home automation system, solar ready infrastructure and above-average energy efficiency ratings’ as standard in their townhouse communities.
When his ACT companies folded, Farrelly quietly slipped back to Sydney.
He made a home for himself in an Art Deco apartment block on New South Head Road with sweeping views of Double Bay and nearby Redleaf Beach.
None of the units in the complex are in his name, which suggests he is renting there.
Weeks before his arrest, he posted a video online of the view from his apartment, alongside the optimistic caption: ‘Come on Summer, currently cruising at 27d ☀️Alright, alright, alright.’
An old corporate headshot of Farrelly, who describes himself as a music manager and property developer on social media
A street view of the Double Bay unit block where Farrelly was arrested last week
Interestingly, his account on social media platform Threads was advertising a development in ‘the lovely Molongo Valley [sic]’ in the ACT, via Elly Property Group, as recently as last month.
That real estate project, Debut, was flagged in 2021 reports as one of the townhouse developments where buyers were left in the lurch after contracts were rescinded.
While he may have been keeping a relatively low profile in Double Bay compared to his showy life as a real estate developer in our nation’s capital, I can reveal Farrelly did have some strange interactions with eastern suburbs locals.
In January, he used Threads to engage in a series of puzzling online exchanges with a younger Asian woman.
He posted the same comment below three of her photos: ‘Hi Sella, did you lose a Harry Potter journal in Double Bay?’ She did not respond.
After leaving a trail of dashed hopes across the ACT, the latest twist in the Jaime Farrelly saga – hinting at a possible double life – has sparked fascination from Canberra to Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
According to his bail conditions, Farrelly – who also describes himself as a music manager – must surrender his passport and will have to report to Bondi Police Station once daily between 8am and 8pm.
I’m sure I’ll be seeing him around.
