Michael Murphy jailed for commercial marijuana enterprise in Mawson Lakes warehouse
After $90,000 of weed and bundles of cash were found in a warehouse, the head of the enterprise said he was roped into it to pay off a debt – but evidence says otherwise.
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A drug dealer caught with $90,000 of marijuana in a northern suburbs warehouse said he was roped into the enterprise to pay off a significant debt.
However, Michael Ethan James Murphy’s explanation for the commercial business was debunked by evidence that he was living an extravagant lifestyle.
During sentencing, the District Court on Tuesday heard police searched a Mawson Lakes warehouse on April 9, 2020.
Inside a padlocked shipping container they found 84kg of dried cannabis in cryovac bags.
The court heard the cannabis was valued between $37,000 and $46,000 if sold in pounds or up to $90,000 if sold in ounces.
Inside the floor cavity police found $210,200.
Police then searched Murphy’s Salisbury North home and found two hydroponic grow rooms, with 12 marijuana plants and prescribed equipment.
The Mawson Lakes father-of-three pleaded guilty to large commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.
The court heard Murphy, 29, became addicted to marijuana after a work-related back injury and became involved with negative associates.
An “unnamed Vietnamese drug dealer” then asked Murphy to sell marijuana to a group of men in 2018, according to him.
“You claimed the drugs you sold to those men were laced with sugar water to add to their weight,” Judge Jane Schammer said.
The court heard the men demanded to be repaid $60,000 and Murphy feared for his and his family’s safety so agreed to participate in the enterprise and said he did not stand to profit.
Judge Jane Schammer said she rejected this explanation, saying evidence showed Murphy played a “pivotal role” in the enterprise.
Bank statements revealed $358,000 was available to Murphy from unidentified sources and he and his family spent large amounts on retail and travel purchases.
Murphy’s family members are not charged with any wrongdoing.
The court heard Murphy was running his own handyman business while on home detention bail, as well as working at a kebab shop.
The court heard Murphy was remorseful for his offending and demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation.
However, Judge Schammer said the offending was too serious for anything but immediate jail.
She sentenced Murphy to four years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.
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