AN0M arrests Adelaide: First 28 of 55 alleged crims face court after new SA Police Ironside bust
They are the everyday South Australians among 55 arrested by police in early morning raids as part of the new Ironside sting. See who has fronted court so far.
Fifty-five people have been charged to face court after dawn raids in a statewide AN0M sting.
Early on Wednesday morning SA Police made multiple arrests in relation to the encrypted messaging app AN0M, created by the Australian Federal Police and FBI to track criminal activity.
ROLLING COVERAGE: FULL LIST OF DAY 2 AN0M ARREST NAMES
As of Wednesday evening 28 people have faced court.
It comes as five suppressed men arrested under Operation Ironside – and who were initially facing trial – pleaded guilty to large commercial drug trafficking for a criminal organisation on Monday.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL LIST OF DAY 1 AN0M ARREST NAMES
The court heard one man, in his twenties, was responsible for distributing AN0M phones to other members and was called upon to assist with any IT issues.
Special leave was granted last year to appeal to the country’s Highest Court on the admissibility of the messages.
Earlier this month, the High Court ruled against the Comanchero bikies at the centre of the case – a decision which was welcomed by the government.
Lawyers for the two men – alleged to be senior organised crime figures – had argued the AN0M app was an illegal interception and the AFP were acting unlawfully in monitoring the conversations between their clients and others.
However, the High Court ruled this was not the case and as a result, the grant of special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision was revoked.
Here’s who faced court and what happened:
1. Casey Pinkerton – Valley View
An alleged AN0M user, arrested after a major police sting, allegedly obtained 4.55kg of meth from an outlaw motorcycle gang member — which would have sold for up to $1.5m, a court had heard.
Casey Pinkerton, 35, was the first of over 55 arrests to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Mr Pinkerton, of Valley View, is yet to enter any pleas to 20 counts of drug trafficking — four of which relate to trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
On Wednesday, prosecution opposed Mr Pinkerton’s application for bail — telling Magistrate John Clover he had “continued to offend” while serving a suspended sentence bond for a previous drug trafficking offence in 2020.
“The prosecution is opposed on the following basis: the gravity of the alleged offending, the strength of the prosecution case, the risk of reoffending and the fact that the applicant was on a suspended bond while committing these alleged offences,” they said.
“Evidence of these charges are comprised of messages sent over the AN0M platform. Your Honour, the alleged offending should be considered as serious, and ranges from trafficking single ounces up to whole kilogram amounts of methamphetamine.
“On the prosecution case, the accused obtained the methamphetamine from OMCG members, and then proceeded to take part in the trafficking of said drugs. The alleged offending comprised of 20 counts — in total a combined weight of 4.55kg or 10 pounds.”
Prosecution further alleged Mr Pinkerton was operating his AN0M device under the username ‘Not Guilty’.
Defence counsel, for Mr Pinkerton, told the court he noted the prosecution case was “strong” – but submitted there were “some holes from the outset”.
“There being no seizure of any drugs, or seizure of any device,” he said.
“Inevitably, it would see this matter go to a trial.
“In terms of my friend’s submission that there’s a risk of reoffending and a concern he won’t comply with bail, I will note that in the course of his previous matter, he did spend four years on home detention bail without breach; so Your Honour can be satisfied that he would comply with those conditions.”
On Wednesday, Mr Clover ordered a home detention inquiry report and remanded Mr Pinkerton in custody to return to court next week.
2. Name suppressed – northern suburbs
A second man, 41, of the northern suburbs, faced court charged with two counts of commercial drug trafficking.
He is also charged with one count of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The man did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to face court again in February.
His identity was suppressed.
3. John Stevenson – Dublin
Mr Stevenson, 29, of Dublin, is charged with three counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
He applied for home detention bail, which prosecutors opposed saying Mr Stevenson is already on parole for AN0M-related offending.
The court heard his role in that prior offending was “effectively as a truck driver”, and that he discussed that work on the encrypted app “after his arrest”.
He was remanded in custody to a bail hearing next month.
4. Chad Rick Modra – Murray Bridge
Mr Modra 42, of Murray Bridge, made no application for bail.
He is charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking and one count of money laundering
The court heard he was currently serving a sentence for other offending.
His case was adjourned until November.
5. Michael Theoharis – Paradise
A home detention report was ordered for Mr Theoharis, 29, and the application was adjourned until next week.
Mr Theoharis, of Paradise, is charged with 21 counts of drug trafficking, including large commercial drug trafficking.
6. Rhys Mundy – Hallett Cove
Mr Mundy, 35, of Hallett Cove, is charged with one count of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Prosecutors opposed bail, alleging he used AN0M to purchase illicit substances to on-sell.
They said he purchased 1kg of cocaine from a drug syndicate for $300,000 between September and October 2020.
Mr Mundy’s counsel said he had no relevant criminal history and partial care of his son, who has a “significant” and chronic lung disease.
Magistrate Ben Sale released Mr Mundy on $5000 bail to face court again next month.
However, prosecutors said they would appeal that decision, and Mr Mundy was remanded in custody pending that hearing.
7. Alisha Joyleen Bennett – Gawler South
Ms Bennett, 36, had a home detention report ordered for her and the application was adjourned until next week.
The Gawler South woman is facing 11 counts of drug trafficking, including large commercial drug trafficking.
8. Adam Hayter – Yankalilla
Mr Hayter, 31, of Yankalilla, is charged with three counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and one count of money laundering.
Prosecutors alleged he and Mr Stevenson were drivers for the same drug syndicate, taking materials to NSW.
Mr Hayter, they alleged, transported 244.3kg of cannabis, 5kg of cocaine and 538lbs of another substance, along with $169,925 in cash.
Mr Hayter’s counsel said he was a full-time diesel mechanic and truck driver, a husband and a father of two.
Prosecutors had, they said, “waited 4 1/2 years to arrest” their client, meaning he posed no risk on bail.
Magistrate Ben Sale ordered a home detention bail report and remanded Mr Hayter in custody until next month.
9. Michael Dinning – Evanston
Mr Dinning, 41, is yet to plead to two counts of commercial drug trafficking and one count of trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The Evanston man was ordered a home detention inquiry report, and was remanded in custody to return to court next week.
10. Terry Bunker – Angle Vale
Mr Bunker, 43, of Angle Vale, is charged with six counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
He is further charged with one count of knowingly engaging in money laundering.
Magistrate Ben Sale ordered a home detention bail report and remanded him in custody until next month.
11. Brad Sheehy – Salisbury
Mr Sheehy 40, of Salisbury, applied for bail, charged with 10 counts of drug trafficking, including large commercial drug trafficking.
A prosecutor said Mr Sheehy had allegedly trafficked in “ substantial quantities” of cannabis between November 2020 and April 2021.
The court heard Mr Sheehy allegedly offended at the direction of a co-accused, whose identity is suppressed.
The prosecutor said the AN0M evidence against Mr Sheehy was “compelling”, including a video where his face can be seen in the reflection and him photographing “wads of cash”.
Jasmine Daniel, for Mr Sheehy, told the court her client was the sole provider for his family, working FIFO in civil mining and construction at Roxby Downs.
Magistrate John Clover adjourned the application to next week.
12. Harley Poulton – Munno Para West
Mr Poulton, 33, of Munno Para West, is charged with five counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
A prosecutors alleged he trafficked “just over a tonne” of cannabis, between Adelaide and NSW for a syndicate, saying he was “at the heart” of its operations.
He said another of the arrested men, whose identity is suppressed, was “at the apex” of the syndicate while fellow accused Rhys Mundy was “a customer”.
Mr Poulton, he alleged, used an AN0M-equipped device to “play a key role” in the sourcing, sorting, transport, packaging and delivery of cannabis.
“We allege he trafficked, over five occasions, a total of 1056.64kg of cannabis which is, by my maths, just over a tonne,” he said.
Mr Poulton counsel asked he be released on bail, saying he was a father of two and owner of an air conditioning installation business with three staff.
Magistrate Ben Sale said he could not do that.
“There was an enormous amount of cannabis involved in these allegations (against him), I think the lowest amount is something like 400lbs,” he said.
“If we were dealing with something less Herculean, like 8lbs or 20lbs, I might be with you on significant delay (in arrest), no criminal past, no offending alleged in the years since.
“But it’s such an enormous amount of cannabis... I don’t think I’m prepared to grant anything less than home detention bail.”
He remanded Mr Poulton in custody to a further bail hearing next month.
13. Name suppressed
Prosecution evidence against a man whose identity has been suppressed is “compelling”, a court has heard.
The man is facing multiple charges of drug trafficking; including large commercial drug trafficking.
On Wednesday, prosecution submitted that the man’s offending sat at a “level above” that of his co-accused.
14. Name suppressed – northern suburbs
A suppressed man, 45, made no application for bail.
The northern suburbs man, who is charged with drug trafficking and delivering a prohibited item to a prisoner, had his application adjourned until next month.
15. Stefan Gawlik
Mr Gawlik, 34, is charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking, including large commercial drug trafficking.
Magistrate John Clover ordered a home detention report and adjourned the Torrens Park man’s application until next week.
16. Kiera Lee Scott – Royal Park
Ms Scott, 35, of Royal Park, made no application for bail.
She is charged with multiple counts of drug trafficking.
17. Steven Bell – Forestville
Mr Bell, 35, allegedly made references to “O’s” and “balls”, attached with prices “consistent with that of meth”, prosecutors allege.
The Forestville man, who prosecutors claim engaged in a “sustained course of trafficking”, is yet to plead to nine counts of drug trafficking.
Mr Bell was remanded in custody until next week, when he will find out the outcome of a home detention inquiry report.
18. Vate Gjinaj – Penfield Gardens
19. Man, 46, name suppressed
20. Man, 52, name suppressed
Mr Gjinaj, 52, of Penfield Gardens, is charged with 15 counts of trafficking in a large commercial quality of a controlled drug.
His 46-year-old co-accused is charged with 21 counts of the same offence, while his 52-year-old co-accused is charged with three counts.
Their identities are suppressed due to them having existing matters in other courts that are bound for trial.
They will face court on Thursday for bail applications.
Mr Gjinaj’s counsel asked for a home detention bail report, and he was remanded in custody until next month.
21. Simon Merendi – St Morris
Mr Merendi, 40, of St Morris, is charged with seven counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.
His counsel told the court the allegations arose from manufacturing “GHB or its equivalent”, calling it a “poor man’s drug”.
He was remanded in custody to a bail application on Thursday.
22. Amanda McPherson – McLaren Vale
Ms McPherson, 37, allegedly trafficked at least 25L of “mixture” consistent with the drug fantasy, and trafficked $7000, a court has heard.
After allegedly engaging with an associate “regarding the purchase of fantasy”, the McLaren Vale woman has been charged with four counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and two counts of money laundering.
Defence counsel, for Ms McPherson, made an application for supervised bail — which was opposed by prosecutors.
Magistrate John Clover said he was “minded to entertain” granting bail, but, “given the gravity” of the alleged offending, remanded Ms McPherson in custody and ordered a home detention inquiry report.
She will return to court next week.
23. Moral Huckel – Glenelg
Mr Huckel, 61, of Glenelg, is charged with eight counts of trafficking in a commercial quality of a controlled drug.
He was remanded in custody to a bail hearing next month.
24. Dave Starr – Burton
Mr Starr, 47, of Burton, made no application for bail.
He is charged with multiple counts of manufacturing a controlled drug for sale and had his charges adjourned until next month.
25. Pasquale Perre – Lewiston
Mr Perre, 41, is yet to enter a plea to 18 counts of trafficking in a controlled drug and four counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The Lewiston man was remanded in custody after the ordering of a home detention bail report to face court again next week.
26. Name suppressed
A man, whose identity has been suppressed, is charged with 71 offences including trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and money laundering.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until next month.
27. Name suppressed
A man, whose identity has been suppressed, is charged with 22 counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The court heard he is already on parole, and is awaiting five separate trials over the next two years, all arising from AN0M allegations.
It also heard he had recently tested positive for drugs including GHB and cannabis, leading to the cancellation of his parole.
Magistrate Ben Sale refused bail and remanded him in custody until next month.
28. Name suppressed – northern suburbs
A northern suburbs man, who cannot legally be identified, made an opposed application for bail on Wednesday.
He is yet to enter pleas to 17 counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, 10 counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and 25 counts of basic trafficking.
Magistrate Lynette Duncan ordered a home detention bail report and remanded him in custody to appear in court next week.
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Originally published as AN0M arrests Adelaide: First 28 of 55 alleged crims face court after new SA Police Ironside bust
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