Benjamin Leigh Carter: Former Penrith tax agent hit with fresh embezzlement charges

A former high flying tax agent, accused of siphoning the funds from various former clients to bankroll his gambling addiction, has been hit with more than a dozen embezzlement charges.

A former Penrith tax agent accused of defrauding his clients to feed his gambling addiction, is now facing fresh charges of embezzlement.

Benjamin Leigh Carter, 37, who owned the successful Carters Tax Advisory, fronted Penrith Local Court on Friday where he was charged with 15 counts of embezzlement.

Carter is now accused of “fraudulently embezzling” a total of $434,827 from businesses and individuals who had sought his professional services as an accountant

Among the alleged victims hardest hit is Penrith manufacturer Gem Tuss and Co, which Carter is accused of embezzling $188,885.80 from, along with an air conditioning business who allegedly had $90,869 embezzled.

Alleged fraudster accountant Ben Carter. Picture: Facebookj

A total of seven people listed in court documents as allegedly being embezzled from can be named as Maryanne and Kyle Churchill, Alex Vella, Christopher Barlow, Edmund Erler, Mark Ganley, Margaret Bennett.

Carter also faces 16 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, one of dealing with the proceeds of a crime and three of using a false document to obtain a financial advantage.

One previous charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime with the intention to conceal to be withdrawn, relating to a previous allegations Carter had been money laundering, along with 16 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

The father-of-three is facing 35 charges over allegations he used clients’ money who had sought his services as a tax adviser to feed his online wagering addiction.

Benjamin Carter in a promo video for his business

Carter was joined in court by his partner, Amy Steele, who is charged with recklessly dealing and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Both Carter and Steele’s lawyers were handed charge certificates from prosecutor while Magistrate George Breton quickly explained the process to both Mr Carter and Ms Steele.

Amy Steele leaves Penrith Court

Carter later pleaded guilty that same day to a lone charge of possessing cocaine, which the court was told came from the day he was arrested for the alleged frauds.

Defence lawyer Bobby Hill told the court the drugs weighed roughly two grams.

He said his client, a father of three, was now working as a building cost estimator, earning about $1000 a week.

Mr Hill said Carter had since been ordered to complete drug tests under family court orders, and had never returned a positive test.

The charge was dismissed without conviction after he pleaded guilty.

Carter, who is on bail, will return to the Penrith Local Court on Friday, July 26.