Australian Court Concludes Case Against Accountant Who Gambled with Client Funds

One of Victoria, Australia’s most high-profile cases of white-collar crime has finally drawn to a close. Former accountant Andrew Marshall has been sentenced to six years and five months imprisonment for stealing over AUD 4 million ($2.66 million) from clients to support his escalating gambling addiction. The County Court of Victoria delivered its judgment this week, marking the final chapter in a long-running saga.

The Defendant Operated with Impunity for Years

Marshall, once a trusted director at Langley McKimmie Accountants in Woodend, stole money from at least five clients between 2017 and 2023. Judge Gerard Mullaly condemned Marshall’s actions, highlighting his “destructive and pathological” behavior that could corrode public faith in an entire profession. Among Marshall’s victims were an elderly woman who had recently lost her husband and another client dying of brain cancer. 

According to court filings, Marshall’s brazen misappropriations remained undetected for years. On one occasion, he made about 90 different withdrawals totaling more than AUD 1.5 million ($1 million). The victim was informed of the situation only after the Australian Taxation Office urged her to review her accounts. In another instance, Marshall reportedly stole over AUD 20,000 ($13,300) from a friend who had lent him money.

Judge Mullaly commented that Marshall’s moral culpability was very high, stressing the calculated nature of his actions and his complete absence of self-restraint. Many of his victims were left emotionally shattered and financially stripped. Marshall will be eligible for parole after four years and three months. 

Gambling Operators Face Rising Scrutiny

While the proceedings primarily focused on Marshall’s actions, the case also highlighted the role of gambling operators. Defense counsel Jim McGarvie described a similar pattern in several recent cases: an addicted gambler showered with bonus bets, VIP attention, and aggressive promotional tactics that kept him locked in a vicious cycle. 

McGarvie drew comparisons to the earlier prosecution of financial adviser Anthony Del Vecchio, whose gambling-driven fraud got him a seven-year prison sentence. In that case, the judge described the conduct of online betting platforms as “evil.” One of Marshall’s victims, 53-year-old Kym Cavigan, has escalated the issue, seeking to hold operators accountable.

Kym, who claims that Marshall took over AUD 730,000 ($485,000) from her, has filed a lawsuit against Sportsbet, owned by Flutter Entertainment. The suit contends that the operator permitted large wire transfers from an account that did not belong to Marshall and failed to verify the source of the funds. Cavigan said she would continue fighting to expose how easily stolen money can enter the wagering system.