Ex-My Kitchen Rules contestant, butcher Arthur Vella pleads guilty to drug trafficking

A former My Kitchens Rules contestant’s lawyer said his drug dealing business wasn’t exactly “Scarface” after a raid on his home uncovered three pounds of drugs and $30,000 cash.

Arthur Michael Vella faced Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A former My Kitchen Rules contestant’s lawyer has stated his caper as a “street level dealer” wasn’t exactly a “Scarface” operation after he was found growing and dealing his own marijuana crop.

Arthur Michael Vella, who shot to local stardom in 2011 after making it to the top nine of the Channel 7 reality cooking show, hugged supporters outside of Maroochydore District Court on Monday after he narrowly avoided going into prison for his foray into drug dealing in 2022.

The court was told by crown prosecutor Alex Stark the Buderim man made $33,450 in only six and a half months by growing and selling marijuana from his home.

Mr Stark said at the height of his business the 55-year-old butcher had 35 regular customers and was dealing to at least four people a day. He would sell from his home or make arrangements for them to collect.

Arthur Michael Vella working as a butcher in 2007. Picture: Michaela Glen

The court heard he would sell from $50 worth of marijuana at a time up to an ounce and told others to “park away” from his house if they were dropping by to collect drugs.

A raid on his home on October 27, 2022 unravelled the operation where 22 marijuana plants were found in his garage as well as three pounds of cannabis in vacuum sealed bags.

Messages on the butcher’s phone revealed his side hustle dealing drugs.

The prosecutor said during the raid police found hydroponic grow tents, a watering system, fertiliser and equipment which were used to grow marijuana.

Vella made it to the top nine in 2011’s season of My Kitchen Rules until he and his partner were eliminated. Picture: Taefi Photography

Mr Stark said Vella also had a laminated sheet of instructions on his garage wall on how to grow marijuana along with a cryovac machine and smaller amounts of marijuana, cocaine and synthetic ecstasy which were discovered during the search warrant.

He said $33,400 in cash was also found, which showed even though Vella’s operation was street level it appeared to be “pretty rewarding” over the six month period, the court heard.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said the Buderim father started to grow marijuana for a relative due to a medical condition, and used it himself for anxiety.

Vella being comforted by one of her supporters after his sentence. Picture: Patrick Woods

Mr Lewis said he didn’t want the relative to deal with the “criminal element” of buying marijuana and made the judgement call to grow it, but also felt concerned about possible medical costs needed for his relative and decided to sell as well.

“The old saying goes ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’, this is a classic case,” Mr Lewis said.

One of his supporters responded to media after the sentence. Picture: Patrick Woods

The court heard Vella had no criminal history, with his barrister tendering to the court references from two butcher colleagues on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Lewis said the 55-year-old made a “terrible judgement call” however it was “not some sort of Scarface type operation”, referring to the cult film about the infamous Cuban drug lord Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino.

Judge Glen Cash said it was clear Vella had a “lucrative and successful business for six months” selling drugs, but spared the 55-year-old dad from serving actual time in custody.

Vella pleaded guilty to seven charges including trafficking in dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs and possessing instructions for schedule two drugs and was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail.

This was suspended immediately for two and a half years.