Candy Crush Merbein Mushrooms Mildura scoundrel Allison Simmons pleads guilty to fraud: Court

A sly fraudster who ripped almost $900,000 from a Mildura mushroom farm splashed her stolen dough playing Candy Crush.

Allison Simmons stole almost $900,000 via a fraud on Merbein Mushrooms and spent cash on Candy Crush. Picture: Google Maps

A devious scoundrel who ripped almost $900,000 from a family owned Mildura mushroom farm blew $181,000 playing Candy Crush.

Allison Simmons, 52, fronted the County Court on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple theft charges.

Simmons stole almost $900,000 from family owned Mildura farm Merbein Mushrooms between 2013 and 2019.

The court heard Simmons, whose legal name is Allison Taouk, was the company’s payroll officer while she fleeced $884,423 via 435 bogus transactions.

Simmons earned $279,000 from Merbein Mushrooms and further income via Australia Post and her own beauty business while her skulduggery was in full flight, the court was told.

The scoundrel’s modus operandi was to divert employee pays into various bank accounts under her control then blow the ill-gotten cash on lavish treats for herself.

Simmons’ fraudulent criminality escalated over the years and she managed to steal $137,000 in 2019 despite leaving Merbein Mushrooms in February of that year.

Simmons’ racket unravelled after several employees noticed their wages had been diverted to random bank accounts.

The company launched a probe before reporting Simmons to police.

The court heard Simmons, who is now unemployed, blew a significant amount of her stolen cash gambling and via Facebook ”commercial activities”.

Simmons, who denied having a gambling addiction, also burned a staggering $181,491 playing Candy Crush.

“That’s a lot of Candy Crush …,” Judge David Sexton said.

“(The amount stolen) is a pretty significant quantum isn’t it … almost a million dollars …

“I can’t make a finding of remorse … it’s troubling …”

She also splashed cash on lavish ”lifestyle expenses” including $32,000 on “lifestyle entertainment”, $62,000 via PayPal and $86,000 on retail expenses.

“Yep, it’s a lot,” Judge Sexton said.

The court heard Simmons, now of Sunnycliffs, moved from Mildura after she was arrested.

The defence submitted Simmons was depressed and experienced bullying at work.

Simmons, who initially attempted to lie and cover up her offending when first confronted, also claimed she was threatened with a rifle.

“Pretty extraordinary tissue of lies really,” Judge Sexton said.

The prosecution submitted the “sophisticated” offending involved a “level of subterfuge”.

“Some people spend money on Candy Crush apparently … she has received the money and used it on herself,” the prosecution submitted.

“How much does a game of Candy Crush cost,” Judge Sexton asked.

Simmons, who has a prior for fraud, was remanded to be sentenced at a later date.

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