Ms Marianna Casella, Mr Peter Stokes, Mr Anton Vilenica and Mr Ken McDowell appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged with holding themselves out to be investment advisers without being licensed. This action follows an investigation by ASIC.

It is alleged that between January 2001 and March 2002, Ms Casella, Mr Stokes, Mr Vilenica and Mr McDowell made representations to investors concerning a high-yield, but unnamed investment.

At the time of making the alleged representations to investors, Ms Casella operated a small finance brokerage consultancy business under the name Marianna Casella Consultancy Services. This business operated from an office at Strathpine, in Queensland, where Mr Stokes also operated his business as an accountant. Mr Vilenica was a self-employed financial consultant and Mr McDowell was a Melbourne accountant operating as Kenlyn Business Services Pty Ltd.

ASIC further alleged that the representations made by Ms Casella and Messrs Stokes, Vilenica and McDowell included that investor funds would be used for project establishment fees, that they would receive a 200 per cent return on their investment over periods varying from 30 to 95 days and that their principal investment was guaranteed and safe.

It is alleged that investment funds totalling $257,000 were deposited to a trust account operated by Mr McDowell however, to date, none of the investors in the scheme have received their principal investment back or any return on the investment as promised.

The magistrate adjourned the case to 7 April 2006 and released Ms Casella and Mr Stokes Vilenica on unconditional bail. Mr McDowell, whose solicitor appeared on his behalf, was summoned to appear at the next mention.

This matter is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions