Samuel Gary Johnson pleads guilty to drug supply

The owner of one of Noosa’s most well-known fashion stores has been found guilty of supplying cocaine on multiple occasions. Here’s what happened in court.

Samuel Johnson.

A Noosa businessman busted selling cocaine has told a court he has cut ties with a circle of bad “influences” by moving to the Gold Coast.

Business owner, Samuel Gary Johnson, 32, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to two drug supply charges.

The court was told on dates in August and December 2020 Johnson was busted supplying cocaine in Noosa.

Crown prosecutor Erica Zammit told the court there was a “commercial element present” in the supply of the 3g of cocaine, however it was not alleged Johnson was “high up in the food chain”.

“Those supplies were both for a commercial purpose, the total amount of cocaine supplied by the defendant was 3g and he’s profited a sum of $1000 across those supplies,” Ms Zammit said.

Samuel Johnson.

Defence barrister for Johnson, Jay Merchant, told the court Johnson was suffering from “covid challenges” at the time of the offence.

“His businesses closed down, these were businesses that he had worked at since high school and he has continued on with that employment, employing people throughout Queensland,” Mr Merchant said.

Mr Merchant told the court since the offences the 32-year-old had moved to the Gold Coast to escape “influences” on the Sunshine Coast and planned to expand his clothing business overseas.

“Both his business partner and him in the reference material talk about expanding their business into Asia and New Zealand,” Mr Merchant said.

District Court judge Nicholas Andreatidis told the court Johnson’s age and lack of criminal history was “really important” when it came to the 32-year-old avoiding jail time.

“Your social circle involved alcohol consumption and drugs were used in that circle, it is a real critical factor in today's sentence that you have made a conscious decision and actioned a physical separation from that circle,” Mr Andreatidis said.

Mr Andreatidis sentenced Johnson to 24 months’ probation.

Convictions were recorded despite Mr Merchant’s concerns the convictions would prevent Johnson’s plans to expand his business.