Peter John Stevens, arrested in Virginia raid, allegedly linked to money laundering gang
A Virginia mother, father and son raided by police for drugs, illegal firearms and vehicles on Thursday are members of a criminal gang police believe has laundered as much as $20 million, a court has heard.
North & North East
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A family raided over a huge haul of drugs and illegal firearms at Virginia on Thursday are involved in a gang that is believed to have laundered as much as $20 million, and dealt in similar amounts of drugs, a court has heard.
One of the gang members – Peter John Stevens, 34 – faced Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday on one count of participating in a criminal organisation and two counts of possessing a firearm without a licence.
His parents were also arrested following the raid of their home, but bailed to appear at a later date.
Prosecutor John Mattner told the court there were “a number of co-accused” in the gang who had already been charged with money laundering and drug trafficking.
He said police were investigating the organisation of which Stevens is a member for laundering between $4 million and $20, as well as trafficking methamphetamine and cannabis of a similar value.
Mr Mattner said the “kingpin” of the gang was set to face court late next year, along with all other members of the group.
He said police had to comb through 700 videos seized from the gang leader’s phone and transcribe intercepted telephone calls dating back as far as November last year.
A duty solicitor representing Stevens applied for a report on home detention bail – which he was already on at the time of his arrest – so the matter could come back to his usual lawyer, Aaron Almeida, at a later date.
Mr Mattner opposed the application.
Magistrate Clive Kitchin refused to order the report – instead saying the matter could be revisited later this month when Stevens is set to appear on different, earlier charges.
Police seized guns, vehicles, fireworks, drugs and cash from the Virginia home of Stevens and his parents on Thursday.
A search conducted by STAR Group officers and Serious and Organised Crime Branch found 20 gel blasters, four illegal firearms, a jetski, three vehicles, drug paraphernalia, fireworks and $800 in cash.
Stevens’ parents – aged 55 and 57 – will appear in court next March.