Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti, 19, trafficked marijuana for five months while living in a motel room and supporting his ex and child in another location

A former prison officer’s son, who was at one point selling 2kg of drugs a week, has been jailed after police uncovered his ‘very profitable’ Central Queensland drug trafficking business. Find out what happened in court.

Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti, 19, pleaded guilty on April 27 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of trafficking drugs, two of possessing drugs, one of possessing an item used in trafficking drugs and one of possessing an item gained from trafficking drugs.

The son of a former prison officer has been jailed for trafficking drugs for five months when he was 18.

Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti, 19, pleaded guilty on April 27 in Rockhampton District Court to one count of trafficking drugs, two of possessing drugs, one of possessing an item used in trafficking drugs and one of possessing an item gained from trafficking drugs.

Crown prosecutor Harriet Hall-Pearce said Comolatti initially sold 57-85 grams of marijuana per week in street level quantities during the five-month trafficking period which was between April 18, 2020 and September 29, 2020.

She said in late August and early September, Comolatti escalated his business to sell almost two kilograms per week, selling about $24,000 of product.

Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti, 19.

Ms Hall-Pearce said police were able to identify about 10 of Comolatti’s customers – most who were known to the defendant personally.

She said Comolatti sold marijuana for cash or valuables but never on tick.

Judge Jeff Clarke said Comolatti used Snapchat or SMS to organise sales.

He said some of the sales were wholesale for $4000-$5000 of marijuana.

Ms Hall-Pearce said Comolatti used the profits to provide for his former partner and daughter in Gladstone, his own hotel accommodation and food.

Comolatti was unemployed at the time.

“He kept a realistic gel blaster in his hotel room and would produce it when customers became difficult,” Ms Hall-Pearce said.

Comolatti was found in possession of 20 grams of marijuana, a small quantity of MDMA, a silver necklace and cash obtained from trafficking when he was intercepted in Gracemere on his way to a supply on September 28, 2020.

Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti, 19.

“He made extensive admissions about the trafficking which without the Crown could not prove (the trafficking charge),” Ms Hall-Pearce said.

Comolatti had been sentenced nine months ago to two-years probation and compensation for an assault occasioning bodily harm carried out during the trafficking period, but he was not on bail for the trafficking when charged with the AOBH.

Ms Hall-Pearce said the defendant had punched an unsuspecting male in the face and continued attacking him while the victim was on the ground.

Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw said Comolatti’s father was a former prison officer who “denounces this sort of conduct”.

She said Comolatti was the eldest of eight – some are half siblings – and his parents separated when he was five-years-old.

Ms Shaw said his daughter was nearly three and was in his full-time care when the mother was at work at the mines.

She said Comolatti, who had done some short ‘spurts’ of employment, was looking at doing a Certificate III in retail.

Reiketh’e Brian Roy Comolatti.

Judge Jeff Clarke, in jest, said “he should do well at that”.

“Despite your young age, you had a very profitable and successful drug trafficking business you were running,” he said.

Judge Clarke chastised Comolatti’s appearance in court.

“I find it thoroughly disgusting you would turn up in boardshorts and shirt and a pair of throngs when you are being sentenced for drug trafficking,” he said.

Judge Clarke said he had considered sending Comolatti to prison but due to the good probation report and his family support, he reconsidered.

He sentenced Comolatti to two years prison with immediate parole.