Personal trainer Adam Robert Fennell pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering
A bodybuilder who began training bikie presidents also entangled himself in their significant drug operation and will be joining them in jail shortly, a court heard.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bodybuilder entangled himself in a significant criminal enterprise after training bikie chapter presidents, a court has heard.
Adam Robert Fennell, 49, now faces an inevitable jail term after his life spiralled and he began assisting the Nomads traffic large volumes of drugs.
Thousands of dollars worth of heroin and meth were taken off the streets, as well as 11 firearms, five vehicles, four Harley Davidson motorcycles and a jetski after seven properties were searched in Adelaide’s north and east on April 23, 2021.
The Nomads were put under the spotlight during Operation Leo, an investigation that began in December 2020.
Surveillance and listening devices were installed in a Magill shed to monitor the Nomads’ conversations and movements.
Police attended at the premises in April 2021 and found 720g of “very high purity” mixed methamphetamine, valued at up to $125,000 if sold in ounces.
They also found 702g of heroin – valued between $150,000 and $175,000 if sold in ounces.
Police also searched Fennell’s Payneham address and found $100,050 in a paper bag in the kitchen pantry.
Karen Ingleton, for the prosecution, told the District Court Fennell was assisting Nomad bikies Beau James Cochrane and Dion Jay Madden to weigh and package drugs.
Fennell pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.
Kate Budzynski, for Fennell, told the court her client had been competing in bodybuilding since 2003, as well as becoming an accredited personal trainer and working at F45.
Ms Budzynski said Fennell’s mother passing from cancer set his life into a negative spiral and he turned to drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine.
The court heard Fennell then met Madden and Cochrane, both Nomad chapter presidents, and became their personal trainer.
He discussed his financial difficulties with them.
“It is then proposed by Mr Madden that Mr Fennell assist him with the trafficking enterprise that the Nomads are undertaking during that period, and Mr Fennell essentially, against a background of misguided loyalty and that vulnerability … began assisting Mr Madden and Mr Cochrane,” Ms Budzynski said.
The court heard Fennell shared a child with his partner, Sonia Doeuk – who has also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of unrelated drug trafficking.
Ms Budzynski said Fennell, who had turned his life around since the offending, had only been an associate of the club and not a member.
Cochrane, of Highbury, and Madden, of Glynde, pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.
Cochrane also pleaded guilty to possessing 11 firearms without a licence, including two pistols, six rifles and three shotguns for the benefit of a criminal organisation.
Cochrane was sentenced last month to 17 years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of 14 years and two months.
Madden was sentenced to 10 years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of six years and nine months.
Fennell, whose lawyer conceded is also facing an inevitable immediate jail term, will be sentenced in September.
Man dies after serious motorbike crash in the state’s Mid North
A 47-year-old man has died after a serious motorbike crash in the state’s Mid North.
River Torrens closed after dangerous bacteria detected in water
High levels of a dangerous bacteria have been detected in the River Torrens, forcing closures while water quality improvement works are underway.