The Supreme Court of Western Australia has sentenced Chris Marco to 14 years imprisonment, with eligibility for parole after 12 years.
Mr Marco was sentenced today by the Honourable Justice Whitby after a jury found Mr Marco guilty on 4 September 2025 of 43 fraud offences relating to six investors totalling more than $34 million.
ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said, 'Today's sentence finally puts an end to a distressing chapter for investors who were stung by Mr Marco's calculated and long running deceitful practices.
'Mr Marco's case represents one of the most serious frauds ASIC has ever investigated. The sentence handed down by the Supreme Court today is the highest sentence imposed by an Australian court in relation to an ASIC criminal investigation.
'This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr Marco's fraud and the impact it had on investors.
'The fraudulent conduct of Mr Marco was deliberate, well executed and sustained. His misconduct relied on building and maintaining trust with clients over long periods of time. Mr Marco significantly breached this relationship of trust.
'ASIC pursued this matter as part of our commitment to protect investors.
'The conclusion of this matter and successful prosecution is a significant milestone for ASIC, highlighting the rigorous and thorough work of our investigators, legal teams, and collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies on this complex action.'
The matter was investigated by ASIC and prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP).
Background
Following a four-year ASIC investigation, ASIC alleged that between July 2013 and October 2018, Mr Marco obtained over $36.5 million from nine investors with intent to defraud, by deceit or fraudulent means.
In July 2022, Mr Marco was initially charged with 50 counts of fraud pursuant to section 409(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (WA) (22-186MR). The matter proceeded to trial on 43 counts of fraud listed on the indictment.
Following ASIC's continued investigation into Mr Marco's business, it was further alleged that between February 2014 and October 2018, Mr Marco's former executive assistant, Linda Marissen, enabled or aided Chris Marco to defraud more than $29.5 million from six investors (23-130MR).
On 4 September 2025, a jury found Mr Marco guilty of 43 counts of fraud relating to six investors and a total amount of $34,332,453. Mr Marco's former executive assistant, Linda Marissen, was acquitted of all charges of fraud (25-196MR).
The criminal charges followed earlier Federal Court proceedings taken by ASIC against Mr Marco and the company previously run by him, AMS Holdings (WA) Pty Ltd. In those proceedings, the Federal Court had, on 7 December 2020 ordered the winding up of the unregistered managed investment scheme operated by Mr Marco and AMS Holdings (WA) Pty Ltd. The court also ordered that Mr Marco be permanently restrained from carrying on a financial services business without an Australian Financial Services Licence or operating an unregistered managed investment scheme. (20-314MR).
Mr Marco's total effective sentence is 14 years imprisonment.
Mr Marco will be eligible for parole two years before the end of his sentence. Mr Marco will serve 12 years before being eligible for parole not before 2037. Mr Marco's sentence was backdated to 4 September 2025 (the date he was remanded in custody following the jury's guilty verdict).
