Raymond John Coveney pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to uttering counterfeit money, drug offences

A Roma father caught with $400 worth of counterfeit money has spent five months detained in police custody after racking up more than 12 charges. Now he’s facing alleged home invasion and assault charges.

A father-of-four now living in Roma has been released on immediate parole after racking up more than 12 charges over the past year.

Raymond John Coveney, 42, pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to three counts of uttering counterfeit money, three counts of breaching bail, two counts of possessing illegal drugs, failure to report, possessing drug utensils, drug driving, unlicensed driving and failure to appear.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said Coveney’s latest offending began on June 10 where he was picked up for drug driving and drug possession.

Mr Donnelly said CCTV footage captured a package slipping out of Coveney’s pocket, with police uncovering less than a gram of methamphetamine inside two separate zip locked bags.

Further, on November 19 and 20 Coveney tried exchanging counterfeit money three times across two venues.

“He’s approached staff at the Royal Hotel in Roma and either presented them with money asking for change or Keno bets,” Mr Donnelly said.

“It was subsequently determined the (two) $50 he was handing over were counterfeit.

“The following day, again at the same location, he’s done the same and exchanged $50 notes for cash (and) on that occasion the value was $300.

“A total of $400. Restitution is requested in respect to that.

“Later the same day he attended the Queen’s Arms. He’s approached the witness there who works as a bartender.

“He’s produced a counterfeit $100 note from his wallet and attempted to give it to the witness who immediately identified the money was counterfeit and raised this with the defendant and gave it back to the defendant.

“(The defendant) told police that the $400 he won at the races earlier in the day and believes the counterfeit money came from the bookkeeper.

“He could not recall what horses he bet on or produce the receipts of the bets.

“He said he wasn’t aware he was in possession of counterfeit money until notified by the witness at the Queen’s Arms.”

On December 1 police executed a search warrant at Coveney’s address where they uncovered illicit drugs and utensils.

Raymond John Coveney has been released on immediate parole after racking up more than 12 charges over the past year.

“He was located in the backyard attempting to conceal a clip seal bag of a powder item later identified as cannabis.

“He stated it was not his, but he told police it was cannabis.

“A search of his room identified a clip seal bag of cannabis and cannabis buds. The defendant stated it was not his, but again it was in his room.

“The utensil was a cone piece that appeared to have been used in the backyard, it was located in the backyard near where the other items were.

“A grinder was located in the same shed the water pipe was stated to be in and he said the items were not his.”

Between December 2022 and January 2023 Coveney failed to initially report to the Charleville Police Station and then breached bail reporting and curfew conditions a further three times.

“He has a serious history, it’s about eight pages since 2015,” Mr Donnelly said.

Magistrate Shane Elliott said Coveney had a long criminal history littered with drug and dishonesty offences.

“A lot of your offending is either related to drugs and seeing dishonesty offences is common for people with drug addictions,” the magistrate said.

“The most serious offending in this case is the uttering counterfeit money. It’s persistent.

“You knew you were handing over counterfeit money. Obviously the plan was to hand it over where you would then receive proper legal tender.”

Mr Elliott said he would not declare Coveney’s 154 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served due to the severity of his pending charges which included two counts of common assault, two counts of threatening violence and one count of entering with intent.

Coveney was sentenced to five months imprisonment for the uttering counterfeit money charges and four months imprisonment for all other charges. Coveney was released on immediate parole and placed on a $750 12 month good behaviour security bond.

All convictions were recorded.

Coveney was released on bail for the outstanding legal matters with his case adjourned to the August 16 Roma Magistrates Court sitting.