Chloe Victoria Smith pleads guilty to further charges

A prominent beauty worker turned jail inmate has disputed police claims some of her jewellery is the proceeds of bikie-linked drug crime. DETAILS

Chloe Victoria Smith is facing a myriad of charges following two separate arrests in March 2020 and April 2021 over drug-related allegations in Mackay, and for alleged dangerous driving in November 2022.

A Mackay lash technician turned jail inmate has disputed allegations certain jewellery in her possession was the proceeds of drug crimes.

The 11th-hour dispute delayed the finalisation of a three-and-a half year criminal case for another month.

It comes after Chloe Victoria Smith was jailed in October over her role in her former partner’s meth trafficking network after the pair were arrested in March 2020 following covert police operation Romeo Suitcase, which targeted a drug network spanning from the Gold Coast to Cairns and with alleged links to the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

The mother of three will spend eight months of a three-year term behind bars, including over Christmas, with a parole release date in May 2024.

Following this Smith, 30, still had a number of outstanding charges to be finalised that were listed for sentence in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 5 including a dangerous driving matter at Bakers Creek, possessing drugs such as fentanyl and possessing property such as jewellery, watches, gold and a wallet.

Chloe Victoria Smith has argued against a charge alleging jewellery in her possession was the proceeds of drug offending.

Smith had indicated her pleas of guilty to the charges but when Acting Magistrate John Aberdeen read out a charge relating to the items “reasonably suspected of having been acquired” from drug offence proceeds she spoke out that she had “not heard of that charge before”.

“A lot of my jewellery was my jewellery from my previous marriage, I’m really confused,” Smith said via a videolink from prison.

“And I gave them all receipts.”

Chloe Victoria Smith outside of Mackay courthouse.

Smith said her previous lawyer had “sent off everything to prosecution to have my jewellery returned”.

In light of this, Mr Aberdeen said he did not want to take Smith’s plea on this charge and the matter was briefly stood down so she could speak with her new solicitor.

When court resumed both defence and prosecution requested an adjournment so the matter could be case conferenced.

Mr Aberdeen agreed and told Smith he did not want her pleading guilty to charges “just to get them over and done with”.

“That’s not in keeping with what we do here,” Mr Aberdeen said.

Smith’s case was adjourned to November for sentence.