Mark Spakianos pleaded guilty to ‘sub dealer’ role in southern suburbs drug syndicate
A syndicate dealer who brought his 14-year-old daughter to court was given a dressing down by a judge for not making arrangements for her despite facing a lengthy jail term.
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A “sub dealer” in a drug ring has been given a dressing down by a judge for not making arrangements for his children despite facing a lengthy jail term.
Mark Anthony Spakianos, 49, put his “head in the sand” after the southern suburbs syndicate unravelled when police intercepted a kilo of meth.
Spakianos’ 14-year-old daughter was present in court for sentencing submissions in the District Court last week.
“I feel very uncomfortable about that, but she is 14 and it is your client’s choice,” Judge Emily Telfer said in relation to it.
Judge Telfer asked what Spakianos’ plan for his daughter was if she remanded him in custody as she said she would do on the last occasion.
Nick Vadasz, for Spakianos, said his client hadn’t made arrangements for his children as he “can’t cope” with making decisions.
“He is absolutely facing a lengthy term of imprisonment and he cannot avoid that by bringing his children to court or by failing to make arrangements for his children,” Judge Telfer replied.
“It is very easy to put your head in the sand, but what his daughter needs is some plans to be made for her and for her not to be abandoned at the door of court with no-one knowing what is happening.”
Spakianos, who pleaded guilty to five counts of drug trafficking, and multiple co-accused were charged after a major drug sting in the southern suburbs.
Serious and organised crime branch police arrested the men on November 24 and 25, 2021 as part of an investigation into drug distribution across Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
During a search, police allegedly discovered $155,000 in cash, 40 grams of methamphetamine, two cars and three motorcycles.
A search at properties in Sellicks Beach, Modbury North, Windsor Gardens and Holden Hill allegedly led to discoveries of more methamphetamine, 100 grams of cocaine, five kilograms of pseudoephedrine, one kilogram of iodine, two litres of hypo-phosphorous acid and a clandestine lab.
Police also searched properties at Morphett Vale and Hackham.
Spakianos, of Hackham, was charged after one gram of methamphetamine and $11,000 was allegedly discovered.
The court previously heard the men are alleged to be “sub dealers” within the “Thompson enterprise,” run by Blake Eric Thompson.
Thompson’s downfall came when he arranged for 993g of methamphetamine to be couriered and police intercepted the package.
Thompson, 36, of Aldinga Beach, was sentenced for 89 counts of drug trafficking and one count of money laundering in the District Court in November.
He was jailed for 13 years and three months, with a non-parole period of ten years and seven months.
The court heard the men would collect the drugs directly from Thompson or from the ‘stash house’ at Huntfield Heights.
Judge Telfer said she’d give Spakianos another opportunity to make arrangements and adjourned his charges until January.
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