County Court Judge Gerard Mullaly sentenced Victorian accountant Andrew Marshall to six years and five months. Marshall helped run Langley McKimmie Accountants in Woodend, and he stole more than AUD 4 million from clients. He took client funds from 2017 to 2023, and he fed an online gambling addiction. Nevertheless, prosecutors said he targeted vulnerable clients and used their trust as cover.
The victims included a 92-year-old widow and a client with terminal brain cancer. Judge Mullaly stated that the fraud had damaged faith in accountants and harmed the profession’s standing. He noted Marshall’s bankruptcy, yet he said financial stress never justifies theft. Marshall can apply for parole after serving four years and three months in prison.
ATO warning exposed the transfers, and victims faced the fallout
Moreover, Marshall mixed fraudulent transfers with legitimate payments, so clients rarely questioned the activity. In one file, he made about 90 transactions and drained roughly AUD 1.5 million. He often sent money into his personal account within minutes of each transfer. Meanwhile, the Australian Taxation Office contacted a victim, and she reviewed her bank statements.
She spotted about $20,000 leaving every few days and reported the pattern promptly. In contrast, a bereaved client sought guidance, and the theft left her emotionally shattered. A terminally ill client spent her final years anxious, and her daughter described constant grief. Marshall borrowed $10,000 from a friend, but later siphoned more than $20,000. After all, he made each transfer himself, and he ignored the harm each time.
Sportsbet lawsuit pressure grows as VIP betting tactics get questioned.
Nonetheless, the case spotlights how online betting companies court heavy gamblers through VIP programs. Defence lawyer Jim McGarvie said bookmakers pushed bonus credits, matched deposits, and constant VIP contact. On the flip side, the judge said Marshall chose theft, and he kept stealing despite clear harm. Nevertheless, victims argue that platforms should flag unusual deposits and stop wagering with suspected stolen funds. Kym Cavigan says Marshall gambled away her savings, and she plans a Sportsbet lawsuit.
She wants compensation, and she wants tougher source-of-funds checks across online betting. In comparison, financial adviser Anthony Del Vecchio stole about AUD 4.4 million for gambling. A Victorian judge in that case condemned betting practices and used the phrase “banality of evil”. Regardless, lawmakers now face pressure for gambling ad limits and stronger consumer protections.
