Posting date: 13 July 2023 at 8:58h
Last updated: July 13, 2023 at 12:13h
Ben Carter, an Australian accountant, will likely not be present for his child’s birth, the first words said, or the first steps. Instead, he’ll probably be in prison for allegedly stealing AU$26 million (US$17 million) from clients to fund his luxury lifestyle and love of gambling.
Australian accountant Ben Carter wearing a suit in a gym. He is accused of stealing millions from clients in order to fund his gambling lifestyle. (Image:
A court denied Carter bail on his first court appearance, stating that he is a flight-risk. It could also be for his own good, as he allegedly has ties to a major organized crime syndicate.
Fun While it Lasted
Many of the details surrounding the investigation and what led investigators to target Carter are still under wraps. However, according to different media sources, he allegedly scammed at least eight clients out of millions of dollars over the course of several years.
Carter, the owner of Carter’s Tax Advisory in the city of Penrith, faces 16 charges. Carter, the owner of Carter’s Tax Advisory in Penrith, faces 16 charges. These include “obtaining financial benefit by deception”, “knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime” and illegal drug use. The latter stems from a search of his home in Silverdale at the time of the arrest, which uncovered trace amounts of what investigators believe is cocaine.
25-year-old Steele, who also worked as Carter’s receptionist, was picked up a little later. Police found her at an unspecified business in Penrith, and she now faces charges of “recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime greater than $5,000 (US$3,433).”
Unlike Carter, Steele received bail soon after her arrest. She is reportedly cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
The
Daily Mail pointed out that Steele is pregnant, according to a Facebook post. She was allegedly a minor player in Carter’s scheme to cover it up, but she did help him. She will appear in court to find out what happens next. While Carter sits in a jail cell, he’ll have to wait until September to present his side of the story in court.Ties to Questionable Elements
Among Carter’s business relationships has been a craft beer brand, Drink West. Carter, along with its investors and Nathan Cleary from the National Rugby League, was once the chief financial officer of Drink West. His accounting firm appears on filings the company presented to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
That relationship appears to be innocuous, and neither investigators nor prosecutors believe anyone linked to Drink West was involved in Carter’s activities. The same can’t be said for a different relationship, the one he allegedly had with the Alameddine crime syndicate.
Carter’s dealings with the Alameddine organization aren’t clear. Police have arrested its members for a wide variety of crimes, including drug trafficking, violence and street racing. Over the years, police have arrested its members for a wide variety of crimes, including drug trafficking, violence, street racing, and more.
In May of last year, New South Wales police proclaimed that it was successful in breaking up the Alameddine gang, “one of Sydney’s most dangerous crime families.” Since then, including as recently as last month, more members of the gang have been arrested.
When police arrested Carter on Tuesday, they seized various items, including documents, computers, and more. When police arrested Carter on Tuesday, they seized various items including documents, computers, and more.