FULL LIST: 30 Queensland parents’ drug crimes exposed
Managing a work-life-crime balance was a juggling act for these 30 Queensland parents, whose drug-related crimes span the state. See what led them to court. LIST
Police & Courts
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Parenting may be a full-time job, but these Queensland mums and dads still found time for unlawful acts on the side.
Some kept their drugs crimes secret in their household, while others fronted court hand and hand with their partner — or even their child.
Each have different backgrounds and motivations, but drug addiction is a common feature.
New strategies to tackle the prevalence of drugs have been introduced across the state in recent years, with Queensland Crime Statistics revealing how drug offences spiked in most regions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, mental health and rehabilitation have become more integrated priorities in the state’s drug strategies.
In February 2023, the Palaszczuk Government announced proposed changes to Queensland’s Police Powers and Responsibilities Act, which would allow minor drug offenders three chances for possessing small quantities of drugs before they are required to face court.
As part of the same proposed reform, the maximum penalty for drug trafficking would increase from 25 years to life imprisonment.
The Queensland Mental Health Commission supported the proposal, saying, “justice focused approaches to personal drug use and dependence are ineffective and often counter-productive, with criminal justice responses often exacerbating social, financial and legal harm”.
“Diverting people from the criminal justice system and investing in treatment and prevention is a cost-effective strategy with high returns.”
Police Minister Mark Ryan said the approach was a win-win — “better community safety outcomes and better use of police and court resources”.
Read about 30 Queensland parents and the drugs crimes that led them to court:
DORINDA ALLSWORTH: FRASER COAST
A Maryborough judge told this meth-trafficking mum she would have made more profit delivering pizzas if she’d only thought to “do the maths”.
Dorinda Louise Allsworth, 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying cannabis and one of trafficking meth at Maryborough Supreme Court last November.
The court heard Allsworth had trafficked street level amounts of methamphetamine totalling at least $2635 and supplied small amounts of cannabis over a period of just under six months – with a customer base of at least 25 people.
Allworth had struggled with addiction in the past, but tried to steer clear of drugs when she became pregnant with her first child.
She avoided actual jail time for her offences, with a sentence of three years imprisonment and immediate parole.
Although she was pregnant again at the time of sentence, Justice Peter Applegarth told her that was not the reason she had avoided jail.
“I’ve sent heavily pregnant women to jail. I’ve sent young mothers to jail and I don’t apologise for that if that’s what has to happen,” he said.
CARLY ANDERSON: SUNSHINE COAST
A police raid uncovered $17,000 cash and over 90g of meth in this Sunshine Coast mum’s bedroom.
She had moved in with her partner at the time, who the Brisbane Supreme Court heard ran a meth trafficking ring.
Carly Therese Anderson was charged with trafficking after the raid for her role in the operation, and pleaded guilty to that charge and a raft of related drug offences in January 2022.
The court heard she helped her partner with the drug trafficking operation for about six weeks in 2020, in exchange for both financial reward and drugs.
Anderson had struggled with addiction, but still had care of her youngest child and was trying to change her life around.
She received a sentence of three years imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
JORDAN ASHWELL: LOGAN
This young father of three was busted supplying heroin last year to three men inside Beenleigh watch-house.
Jordan Matthew Ashwell pleaded guilty in August to supplying dangerous drugs.
Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court heard Ashwell had smuggled the heroin in a clip-seal bag, which the prosecution acknowledged should have been found if he had been thoroughly searched.
Another man prepared the drug with a syringe – which was also smuggled in, and then Ashwell and three men were captured on CCTV administering the drug.
At 22 years old, Ashwell already had an eight-page criminal history.
He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, with immediate parole release.
SHAUNTAY BOWMAN: TOWNSVILLE
This young mum’s attempt to smuggle drugs into Townsville Correctional Centre was quickly derailed when a sniffer dog took interest in her pants.
Shauntay Joyce Bowman was visiting her partner at the jail in late 2021, when police uncovered 197 buprenorphine tablets and a pouch of tobacco hidden in the waistline of her pants.
She told police she had been paid $500 to smuggle the drugs into the jail, and that there would be consequences for her partner it she refused.
Bowman pleaded guilty in November, 2022, to aggravated supply of dangerous drugs within a correctional facility and attempting to take a prohibited thing into corrective services facility.
She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 12 months.
MAJOK CHOL & ALEXIS HINTON: LOGAN
This Logan couple had their third child on its way when they fronted court for a mega home drug stash.
Alexis Jade Hinton and Majok Chol, 25, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court last November to possessing dangerous drugs more than 500g and possessing proceeds suspected of being used in a drug offence.
Police raided their Woodridge home in 2021 as part of AN0M, Australia’s largest police drug bust.
They uncovered 3.45kg of cannabis packed into clip-seal bags throughout their home, along with $19,000 cash and incriminating text messages.
Hinton’s lawyer told the court his client had started smoking cannabis to treat her back pain after a car crash, and was now determined to overcome her reliance on the drug.
However, Judge David Kent KC said the way the drugs were packaged showed a clear intent to supply.
Hinton was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and Chol was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Both were granted immediate parole release, and convictions were recorded.
MELE CROSS: NORTH BURNETT
This mother of three was collecting more than $60,000 a year from Centrelink while selling meth across the Wide Bay and Burnett.
She had more than 40 regular clients throughout the 14 months she spent dealing drugs in Mundubbera between 2020 and 2021 – making an estimated profit of more than $100,000.
Police uncovered the offending when they searched the home she shared with her husband and three children, as she was on bail for previous drug charges at the time.
Mele Lineti Sanipepa Cross pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg Supreme Court in January to four charges, including drug trafficking and theft.
The court heard she had struggled with drug addiction throughout her life, having lost multiple family members to tragedy.
She was sentenced to five years imprisonment for the trafficking, wholly suspended.
SARAH FROUSHEGER: ROCKHAMPTON
A Central Queensland mum of six fronted Rockhampton Supreme Court last year for her role in a “truly evil” South East Queensland drug trafficking operation.
Sarah Jane Frousheger and her partner at the time would buy methamphetamine and cannabis from the drug syndicate’s leader and sell it to their buyers in Rockhampton.
Their house was raided by police in 2020, after their offending was uncovered as part of police operation Romeo Holt.
In the days leading up to the raid, a CCTV camera captured about 124 people attend the couple’s home, who the court heard were mostly customers.
Frousheger pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and other related drug offences, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
BIANCA HEAD: SOUTH BURNETT
This Kingaroy faced court as result of her drug use and her children went to stay with their father in what was described as a “watershed moment” for her.
Bianca Head pleaded guilty at Kingaroy District Court last October to eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
Her home was raided in 2020, and police uncovered methamphetamine hidden in her bra and incriminating messages on her phone.
The messages proved she had supplied small quantities of meth and cannabis as a low-level street dealer.
The court heard Head had become addicted to meth at age 28, but realised she needed to “change her life” when her children went to live with their father in late 2021.
Head was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with immediate parole.
ROSEMAREE-LEE IVES: IPSWICH
This Ipswich mum’s drug addiction similarly isolated her from her children and led her down a path of drug dealing.
At the height of her addiction, she was smoking and injecting one and a half points of meth daily.
The court heard she was the sole carer of her six and eight-year-old daughters and that she “chose” meth over them and her other children.
Police raided her house in 2019 and 2020, and uncovered she had been selling a cocktail of drugs including crystal meth, opioids, oxycodone, and cannabis.
Rosemaree-Lee Ives faced Ipswich Magistrates Court last March and pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
She was sentenced to 18 month jail with immediate parole.
TIMOTHY LESTER & LUCY THEYERS: IPSWICH
Parents to two children, Timothy James Lester and Lucy Jane Theyers fronted court last year after police found a cannabis growing area under their suburban house.
They also found 55 grams of cannabis in jars in the married couple’s kitchen.
The Springfield Lakes couple had made 57 transactions to 20 customers in just under three months in 2020, turning a profit of around $17,000.
Lester and Theyers both pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court last year to charges including trafficking dangerous drugs.
The court heard Lester was the main operator and had taken over the drug business from a friend.
He received a suspended two-year jail sentence, and Theyers received a suspended 18 month jail sentence.
HANNAH LOVEJOY: GOLD COAST
This young mum remains in custody today, after she was manipulated by her partner into importing $75,000 worth of drugs.
A court heard Hannah Lovejoy’s partner, and the father of her child, was in prison when he instructed her how to import drugs and smuggle drugs into Capricornia Correctional Centre.
The Australian Federal Police had intercepted two packages addressed to Lovejoy in May 2020, which were sent from China and contained 30 litres of liquid drug gamma butyrolactone worth $75,000.
The police also searched her home in Robina and found $52,215 cash in a bedside table and washing machine.
Lovejoy pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court last year to importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, recklessly dealing in proceeds of crime of $50,000 or more, drug trafficking, supplying drugs in a correctional facility, and other drug-related offences.
Lovejoy was sentenced to six years’ jail, with parole eligibility after three years.
According to the Department of Corrections, Lovejoy is currently imprisoned at Helana Jones Community Corrections Centre.
THANH LUONG: BRISBANE
A noodle driver by day, this Brisbane dad had a much more lucrative side hustle that landed him in the Supreme Court last year.
His wife gave birth to their first baby just two weeks before he was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
Saigon-born Australian citizen Luong pleaded guilty to four charges including one count of trafficking and two counts of ice possession.
Thanh Lan Luong, 32, trafficked methamphetamine in Ipswich and Brisbane in 2020 over two months.
In that time, he supplied one of his “lieutenants” with about 1.6kg of ice for about $300,000.
Luong had purchased the drug from an unidentified overseas supplier, and arranged its delivery by air or sea – until COVID-19 border restrictions kicked in.
The court heard he supplied to Stallan and another man on 59 occasions, and that his offending was uncovered by accident when police tapped Stallan’s phone.
Police raided his home in April 2020 and found $52,850 in cash, and 627g of ice which contained 448g of pure ice.
According to the Department of Corrections, Luong is currently incarcerated at Brisbane Correctional Centre.
PAUL MAKIN: SUNSHINE COAST
Sunshine Coast father Paul Keith Makin would deliver marijuana and weed cookies to customers in the afternoons when picking up his children.
The Maroochydore District Court heard Makin was busted during a routine traffic stop in March 2021.
In Makin’s car, police found post-it notes containing customer debt information, along with cannabis seeds, two mobile phones and $15,760.
When police told him they would search his home, he admitted “there’s a s--tload of pot there”.
At his Buddina home, police found 1.136kg of marijuana, 0.3g of meth and weed cookies.
Makin pleaded guilty last August to a raft of charges including drug trafficking and three counts of possessing drugs.
He was sentenced to three years’ jail, to be suspended after serving six months.
SHELLY-ANN MCSHANE: BUNDABERG
A Supreme Court justice asked this Agnes Water mum to consider whether she loved drugs or her child more.
Shelly-Ann McShane pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs in the Bundaberg Supreme Court earlier this year.
The court heard McShane had been a low level dealer for an eight-month period in 2018 and 2019.
She had supplied meth and cannabis to at least four customers, with whom she used a series of codewords to communicate with.
The court heard these codewords included tupperware, cupcakes, green pain and green vegetables.
McShane’s defence lawyer said his client was trying to focus on parenting her one year old child, but Justice Graeme Crow was “not impressed”.
“It just isn’t a good look, it doesn’t work saying ‘I’ve got a child don’t send me to prison’,” he said.
He sentenced McShane to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.
MANDY MICHEELSEN & JACOB O’KEEFE: IPSWICH
Police found a stash of cash and cannabis worth more than $60,000 at this Ipswich couple’s home.
Parents to two teenagers, Mandy Jane Micheelsen and Jacob Neil O’Keefe, parents to two children, both pleaded guilty in November 2022 to a swath of drug charges including possessing cannabis of a quantity exceeding schedule 3.
Police searched their home after reports of cannabis dealing in the area suggested the couple’s home would be the location of an upcoming drop.
They uncovered $36,350 cash along with 1.295kg of cannabis, which had a street value of up to $32,375.
Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said the cash was separated into $10,000 bundles – which suggested it was associated with drug sales; however, the couple was not charged with drug trafficking or supply.
Both O’Keefe and Micheelson received a wholly suspended sentence of 15 months imprisonment.
AMIRA NAAMAN: LOGAN
Amira Naaman was arrested at her Logan home after police uncovered her intent to smuggle drugs into her husband’s prison.
The mother of two was found in possession of 468 buprenorphine strips and a mobile phone which contained incriminating messages suggestive of drug dealing.
They also found a letter which contained instructions on how to send drugs into prison.
The court heard Naaman’s husband had allegedly suggested she supply drugs to support herself while he was incarcerated, and had also allegedly asked her to supply to him inside prison.
She pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to charges including five counts of supplying a dangerous drug, and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, wholly suspended.
CHRISTINE NORTHFIELD: BRISBANE
A bank manager quit her job and turned to drug trafficking after she started smoking ice in her late 30s.
Christine Northfield had an “exemplary work history”, before the trauma of a miscarriage saw her fall into depression and drug use.
She and her husband trafficked methamphetamine, MDMA and GHB for three months in late 2019 and early 2020.
The Brisbane Supreme Court heard Northfield was heavily pregnant at the time with her now three-year-old son – and had stopped using drugs by that time.
The Riverhills mum of two pleaded guilty at Brisbane Supreme Court earlier this year to trafficking dangerous drugs, ten counts of supplying drugs, and other drug-related charges.
Justice Applegarth told her the court had “sympathy for what drugs did to [her] life” but that by peddling those same drugs, she was potentially inflicting that same damage on other people.
Northfield was sentenced to four years jail, wholly suspended, along with three years probation.
JADE O’NEILL: TOOWOOMBA
Toowoomba mum Jade O’Neill fell into drug use and drug debt at a young age – which ultimately led her down the path of drug trafficking.
The Toowoomba Supreme Court heard O’Neill’s offending was uncovered when police were investigating other dealers who she was in contact with.
The mum of two had trafficked meth for three and a half months in 2020, mainly to support her own addiction.
O’Neill pleaded guilty to trafficking meth and to failing to provide her PIN for her phone on police direction when arrested.
She was sentenced to four years jail, with parole eligibility after she serves 12 months.
The court heard O’Neill’s three year old would have to live with her mother while she was in custody.
According the Department of Corrections, O’Neill is still incarcerated at Numinbah Correctional Centre.
WAYNE PATU: IPSWICH
This Ipswich dad enlisted his 18-year-old daughter to smuggle drugs into his jail to help him repay drug debts to fellow inmates.
He fronted Ipswich District Court last year alongside his daughter Aigataulagi, where they each pleaded guilty to one count of supplying dangerous drugs within a correctional facility.
The court heard the father-daughter duo had arranged the attempted drug smuggling over the phone while Wayne Patu was incarcerated at Borallon Training and Correctional Centre.
Police in intercepted Aigataulagi’s arrival at the facility in August, 2020, and she removed about $26,700 worth of suboxone strips from her bra.
At sentencing, Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren reprimanded Wayne Patu, saying it was “a despicable act by a father to draw your daughter, who had no criminal offences at the time … into such serious offences”.
Wayne Patu was sentenced to 12 months jail, with immediate parole eligibility.
Aigataulagi received two years probation and her conviction was not recorded.
SHANIA PEDLOW: SUNSHINE COAST
Sunshine Coast mum Shania Pedlow fronted Maroochydore District Court last November after she attempted to bring drugs into the courthouse.
She pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including six counts of possessing a dangerous drug and 15 breaches of bail.
The court heard she had also been convicted of illegal prostitution and drug dealing in the recent months preceding her November sentence.
Judge Gary Long noted Pedlow had spent 150 days in presentence custody, and now wished to be reunited with her young daughter.
He sentenced Pedlow to 15 months imprisonment, with parole release on December 21 and the 150 days declared time-served.
GRAHAME ROWE: IPSWICH
Ipswich boilermaker and father of seven Grahame Rowe was busted with a mega cannabis stash after he resorted to trafficking during the pandemic.
Police uncovered Rowe’s offending due to his connection with a co-accused, who Rowe purchased 86.6 kgs of cannabis from between December 1, 2020, and June 9, 2021.
When police searched Rowe’s house, they uncovered around $220,000 worth of cannabis, along with $6000 cash, various iPhones, a cryovac machine and two poker machines.
Rowe pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court last year to trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing property obtained from drug trafficking.
The court heard he started obtaining cannabis for himself and his friends due to border restrictions in the pandemic – but things quickly “grew out of control”.
Rowe was sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended after he spent five months in custody.
LESLIE SHARP: TOWNSVILLE
A North Queensland dad with a lengthy and serious criminal history returned to court last November for his role in a near $2 million meth bust.
The most concerning entry on his history was a 17 year jail sentence in 1999 for attempted murder, sexual assault, and deprivation of liberty in Queensland.
Leslie Sharp was released on parole in 2010, and was later involved in an arson following “gangland-style” shooting that rocked suburban Townsville in 2019.
Just months after the arson, police intercepted a car in which Sharp was a passenger and uncovered 1.9kg of meth in a spare tyre, $192,700 cash and 663gm of cannabis.
He pleaded guilty at Townsville Supreme Court last November to five charges including two counts of possessing a dangerous drug, and one count of possessing currency obtained from the supply of dangerous drugs.
The court heard Sharp had organised the sourcing and transportation of the drugs from Brisbane, with the intention to distribute them in Townsville.
Sharp was sentenced to 11 years jail, with parole eligibility set for November 2026 – and 1010 days of presentence custody not declared time-served.
According to Queensland Corrective Services, Sharp is currently incarcerated at Townsville Correctional Centre.
SOPHIE SWEETLAND: GLADSTONE
This young mum pleaded guilty to meth dealing earlier this year after police uncovered incriminating messages on her phone.
They searched her Boyne Island home in April last year and demanded access to her phone – but she claimed she didn’t know the passcode.
When police finally gained access, they found evidence she had supplied methamphetamine on two occasions.
Single mum to a 16-month old at the time of sentence, Sophie Sweetland pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court to two counts of supplying methamphetamine, possessing drug utensils, and contravening an order (in relation to her phone).
The court heard the supply offences were “commercial and businesslike” and indicated she was “well entrenched in the drug scene”.
Sweetland was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with immediate parole.
JADEEN TURNER: TOWNSVILLE
Townsville mum Jadeen Turner started selling meth at 27 – with no criminal history.
She pleaded guilty at age 30 to 10 charges including trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and unlawful supply of weapons.
The Townsville Supreme Court heard Turner’s trafficking had spanned just two weeks in 2019, at which time she had sourced around 56g of meth and $4000 worth of cannabis.
When police searched her Hermit Park home, they uncovered more than $2000 cash, 2.037g meth, and 90g of cannabis.
Her defence barrister explained how Turner had used meth for a “short period” during a dysfunctional relationship, but was now clean.
Turner had spent 226 days in presentence custody, which her barrister said caused a “great deal of distress” to her – as she was been separated from her daughter.
Turner was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with 226 days declared time-served.
She must serve a full two and a half years in custody for the weapons charge, as she had previously taken it to trial and was found guilty.
According to Queensland Corrective Services, Turner is currently incarcerated at Townsville Womens Correctional Centre.
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