James Philip O’Connor, 34, from Crestmead in Beenleigh Court for cannabis trafficking

A Logan cannabis trafficker who built a ‘sophisticated’ empire over six months, has faced time behind bars, after being found with $11k cash and over 3,000 incriminating text messages.

James Philip O’Connor, 34, leaving Beenleigh District Court after being sentenced for drug trafficking

A Logan cannabis trafficker who built a ‘sophisticated’ empire over six months, has faced time behind bars, after being found with $11k cash and over 3000 incriminating text messages.

From May to December, 2020 James Philip O’Connor sold large quantities of cannabis to roughly 60 regular customers from his Crestmead home, Beenleigh District Court heard.

When police raided 34-year-old O’Connor’s house on December 2 that year they found 55 tabs of acid, $11,320 in cash and a large tub of illegal tobacco.

He was also found in possession of fireworks, scales, pipes and a mobile phone containing 3500 incriminating texts as well as social media messages.

The court heard O’Connor sold up to a pound of cannabis at one time, had a tickbook/credit system and availability of several different strains of cannabis.

O’Connor also made attempts to avoid police by meeting new customers in public locations before they bought drugs off him.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous drug over 500g, drug trafficking, two counts of possession of a dangerous drug, supplying tobacco products and possession of drug utensils.

Prosecutor Aden Tranent said O’Connor had a profitable, sophistic dealing set-up and was beyond a youthful offender.

“He was not a youthful, first time offender and even though the trafficking was at a street level, it was still profitable,” he said.

“The dealing was of a sophisticated, commercial nature and was aimed to be as profitable as possible.”

The court heard O’Connor had a good work history and was a productive member of the community.

He used medicinal cannabis frequently now and was an advocate for legal use, rather than black market purchases.

Judge Rowan Jackson said trafficking drugs was taken extremely seriously by the courts.

“Trafficking is an enterprise where people profit off others and perpetuates a cycle of drug addicts,” he said.

O’Connor faced serving an actual term of imprisonment but due to his efforts of rehabilitation and lack of offending since 2020, was not sentenced to a custodial order.

“If you breach any parole orders, including failing to report or drug testing, you will go straight to jail,” said Judge Jackson.

O’Connor was sentenced to three years prison and released immediately on parole.