Pregnant mother avoids prison after trafficking meth for five months
A mother once entrusted with the care of vulnerable children, was exposed for running a drug operation, using social media to peddle illicit substances.
A Queensland mother has avoided a return to prison while pregnant after being sentenced for trafficking methamphetamines for five months.
Macie Eileen Boag, 30, was visibly pregnant when she pleaded guilty on December 1 to one count of trafficking meth and one of possessing the illicit substance in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton.
Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips said Boag trafficked meth in Emerald between September 13, 2024 and November 27, 2024, even after she was put on a Good Behaviour Bond in Emerald Magistrates Court on November 19 for drug-related offences.
He said during one of two searches of Boag’s residence during the trafficking period, police found photographs on her phone of drugs on scales and she had set out her pricing on Snapchat.
Mr Phillips said she had at least nine customers and $1200 cash in her possession.
Justice Michael Copley said police estimated, from the sales and information found on a tick sheet, that Boag pocketed $17,925 and estimated she possessed 160 grams of meth during the trafficking period.
He said Boag negotiated prices with prices and supplied on tick, following up with people who owed her money and declining some sales unless the customer paid with cash.
Justice Copley said Boag carried out 19 sales and two offers of supply with 17 involving 0.1g to 3.5g of meth with the other two sales involving 28g and 14g of meth.
She was also busted in possession of 18.9g of methamphetamine for commercial purpose, and two glass pipes.
Her defence barrister, Sean Franklin, said his client was already a mother to three children and while she has had a drug problem since she was 19 years old, when she heard she was pregnant with her first child, she quit drugs cold turkey.
He said prior to the offending, her partner at that time was a FIFO worker and when he was home, he was either fishing or spending time with his mates.
Mr Franklin said Boag felt lonely as a result and turned back to using drugs to cope.
He said when her partner found out about her drug relapse, he “kicked her out of the family home”.
Mr Franklin said she turned to trafficking to pay for her own habit and support her daily needs.
He said Boag was now pregnant with her fourth child to her current partner, who was at court to support her.
Mr Franklin said his client, who had previously worked in retail and as a residential care worker looking after vulnerable children in care, hopes to return to working with vulnerable children in some way.
He supplied the court with two recent drug test results showing Boag had not used drugs since being granted bail.
Mr Franklin also provided documentation to show she had been participating in rehabilitation courses.
Boag pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking drugs and possessing drugs.
She was sentenced to four years prison, suspended after serving 205 days, declared 205 days presentence custody as time already served and set a four-year operational period.
Justice Copley also placed her on probation for three years.
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Originally published as Pregnant mother avoids prison after trafficking meth for five months
