Marian canefarmer Anthony Peter Rostirolla convicted for $700K weed farm

A 57-year-old farmer has faced a supreme court court after a raid uncovered a marijuana plot in his cane fields and a stack of other illicit drugs including MDMA, LSD and cocaine.

A 57-year-old farmer has faced court after a police raid uncovered a marijuana plot in his cane fields plus a stack of other illicit drugs.

Mackay Supreme Court heard Anthony Peter Rostirolla was not home when police searched his farm at Marian, west of Mackay, on February 11, 2022.

But his wife and son were as police arrested his cropsitter Martin Raymond Lloyd, who was found with $15,000 cash, and seized more than $700,000 worth of drugs, including 124kg of marijuana, 87 MDMA caps, 47 LSD tabs, and 0.6g of cocaine.

The court heard the drugs were found in “an old wooden farmhouse” used as a “cannabis processing” mill with a man-made dam and irrigation system complete with a “large quantity of equipment devoted to that production”.

Anthony Peter Rostirolla plead guilty to running a marijuana farm with drugs worth $700,000. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Mackay Courthouse confirmed Lloyd had been sentenced to two years jail suspended on parole in October, 2022 for production, possessing dangerous drugs and tainted cash.

None of Rostirolla’s family are accused of any wrongdoing.

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Rostirolla had a previous conviction for trafficking marijuana on the same property, and was using marijuana oil to alleviate symptoms of debilitating fibromyalgia.

“The defendant has provided evidence of (medical conditions that) appear somewhat resistant to traditional forms of treatment,” Ms Lawrence said.

$700,000 worth of marijuana and other drugs were found in a police raid at a Marian cane farm on February 11, 2022. Photo: Contributed

“He has a need for a cannabis product (not) provided in a custodial setting (so) it’s conceded would be more onerous upon him (if he was jailed).”

Rostirolla pleaded guilty to six charges of producing cannabis, possessing the various drugs, and possessing various grow house farm tools for the production of dangerous drugs.

Yet he was also discharged of two initially laid charges of drug trafficking and possessing tainted cash, as Ms Lawrence said the Crown had accepted the drugs were for his personal use.

$700,000 worth of marijuana and other drugs were found in a police raid at a Marian cane farm on February 11, 2022. Photo: Contributed

Defence barrister Malcolm Harrison said his client was well thought of as a canegrower and volunteer firefighter in Marian.

Justice David North said five character references from neighbours attested “to (Rostirolla’s) character and the fact that (he was) a good neighbour within the community where (he) live(d)”.

“Have you told your client the authorities know where to find him?” Justice North asked.

“If production were to be attempted again, it would have unfortunate consequences.

Anthony Peter Rostirolla plead guilty to running a marijuana farm with drugs worth $700,000. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“(But) he’s shown a good case for his rehabilitation.”

Rostirolla was sentenced to three years jail for producing marijuana, two years each for possessing marijuana and MDMA, 12 months each for the cocaine and LSD, and was convicted but not further punished for possessing grow equipment.

Justice North suspended his sentence with an immediate parole release date and issued a serious drug offence certificate.

Convictions were recorded with all drugs and drug production equipment forfeited.