Ms Linda Marissen, of Wembley Downs, Western Australia has appeared at the Perth Magistrates Court charged with 34 counts of enabling or aiding the commission of alleged fraud offences by Chris Marco contrary to sections 7(b) and 409 of the Criminal Code (WA).
Following an ASIC investigation, it is alleged that between February 2014 and October 2018, Ms Marissen enabled or aided Chris Marco to defraud more than $29.5 million from six investors. Ms Marissen was employed by Chris Marco as his Executive Assistant.
The criminal charges against Ms Marissen come after Chris Marco was charged in July 2022 with 50 counts of fraud under section 409 of the Criminal Code (WA) (22-186MR).
Ms Marissen was released on bail and is next required to appear on 5 July 2023 in the Stirling Garden Magistrates Court.
This matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Background
The maximum penalty for each offence of fraud under the Criminal Code WA is seven years imprisonment or 10 years if the person deceived is of or over 60 years.
On 7 December 2020, the Federal Court ordered the winding up of the unregistered managed investment scheme operated by Mr Marco and AMS Holdings (WA) Pty Ltd and AMS Holdings (WA) Pty Ltd as trustee for the AMS Holdings Trust (The Defendants).
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).
