This Law Firm Manager Jailed for $2.1 Million Fraud to Support Gambling Habit

(Australian Associated Press) - A former law firm manager has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after siphoning $2.1 million from trust accounts to fund her pathological gambling habit.

Maria Gloria Camarda stole the money while working as an office practise manager at Fremantle law firm Frank Unmack and Cullen between 2007 and 2015.

She frittered the cash away on clothes, bills, her mortgage and gambling at Perth's casino.

The 49-year-old was sentenced to six-and-a-half years imprisonment after pleading guilty in the WA District Court to two counts of stealing as a servant.

She was ordered to serve at least four-and-a-half years before she can be considered for parole.

Judge Michael Bowden said she had a history of pathological gambling and would visit the casino three or four times a week.

"A portion of the money was used to fund that gambling habit," he said.

"This took place over a seven-year period of time and when you were in a position of trust and of course you clearly betrayed that trust.

"At the end of the day there are real victims - the practise, the proprietors of the trust and clients ... and public confidence in the law firm has reduced."

Camarda wrote a total of 379 cheques to herself varying from about $1000 to $40,000 which she paid into her own personal account over seven years.

She claims she repaid about $410,000 but there is evidence she continued to steal from the account even after the alleged repayments.

Her defence lawyer Sean O'Sullivan said she had suffered from anxiety, stress and depression because of media coverage of her case.