Prospect teen Isabella Fazzari concealed $29K – the proceeds of crime – in her bedroom

A teen who concealed thousands of dollars – the proceeds of crime – was photographed vacuum sealing wads of cash in the months before her arrest.

Isabella Fazzari handling cash prior to her arrest in January 2023. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA

A teenager who concealed almost $29,000 cash in her Prospect bedroom was photographed vacuum sealing wads of cash in the months prior to her arrest, a court has heard.

Isabella Fazzari, 19, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a sentencing submissions hearing after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of indictable crime.

She had earlier been charged in connection to the importation of 850g of cocaine hidden inside a puzzle box – but that charge was dropped in August.

Andrew Moffa, for Fazzari, said his “youthful” client had been asked to store the $28,900 cash for someone else.

He said that person had told Fazzari the cash had been earned playing soccer, which that person had wanted to keep away from their family.

Prospect teenager Isabella Fazzari outside court after an earlier appearance. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Fazzari shown vacuum sealing wads of cash in the months prior to her arrest in January 2023. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA

He said Fazzari had later become “suspicious” about the origins of the cash.

“She was very naive and stupid and trusting, in hindsight,” Mr Moffa said.

“She realises that she was being used by criminals.”

Prosecutor Rachel Wang said there was evidence Ms Fazzari had minimised her connection to the person she had received the money from, which indicated she had a lack of remorse for her offending.

She told the court phone evidence dating back to five months prior to Fazzari’s January arrest included videos and images of Fazzari and the person who gave her the money “vacuum sealing cash together”.

Ms Wang said investigators did not know how long Fazzari had been storing the cash, whether she received the money on one or multiple occasions or whether she had been compensated for concealing the cash.

Magistrate Justin Wickens questioned whether Fazzari had realised the seriousness of her actions and the connections to an alleged drug dealer.

“This (person) was trying to sell cocaine in large amounts to various people and she’s holding on to the cash proceeds of that crime,” he said.

“I need to know that she understands who this (person) actually is …. and that (the person) is someone she should not have anywhere near her life or her family.”

Mr Moffa said Fazzari now “gets it” and has insight into her offending but was very young and naive at the time of the offending.

“It’s been a hard lesson,” he said.

He said she had been a highly regarded student leader and sports captain at her former high school. Mr Wickens will sentence Ms Fazzari later this month.