Richard Brunelle jailed for trafficking steroids for dark web business

A gym junkie who was once jailed for his role in a botched drug deal that led to a double murder has been sentenced for trafficking steroids on the dark web.

Richard Brunelle faced Brisbane Supreme Court where he pleaded guilty to trafficking steroids. Picture: Facebook

An employee of a “highly sophisticated” trafficking business that sold steroids through the dark web to thousands of people across Australia has been jailed.

US-born gym junkie Richard Allen Brunelle, 40, dispatched steroids and pharmaceuticals to more than 1700 people over six months while employed by the large-scale illicit business, a Supreme Court heard.

Prosecutor Elise Adams told the court Brunelle held a key role in the business, warehousing and packaging “significant amounts of stock” between July 2018 and January 2019.

Ms Adams said Queensland Police had found $35,000 of testosterone packaged into vials at Brunelle’s Mount Warren Park house and a computer revealing more than 5000 customer emails.

Richard Brunelle did not profit from the drug sales but was employed by the business and received a weekly cash wage. Picture: Facebook

“The emails revealed a sophisticated trafficking operation that was operating in a manner that mirrored a regular lawful online retail business,” Ms Adams said.

“Discount codes with free shipping deals for minimum order values were used as well as bonus inclusions of pharmaceuticals and dangerous drugs for large and repeat orders.”

The court heard that while Brunelle was not profiting from the drug sales, he received a weekly cash wage and the drugs helped feed his own steroid addiction.

Ms Adams said it was the second time he had stumbled into “key roles in serious criminal activity”.

In 2010, Brunelle was sentenced to two years’ jail after he organised a $200,000 drug deal that went horribly wrong when buyers Paul Black and Aaron Smith were shot dead in their car.

The court heard the plan was for Trevor Griffiths and Gary Playford to sell 40 kgs of marijuana to Black and Smith, but the pair decided to rob and murder the men because they did not have any drugs.

Brunelle was not privy to Playford and Griffiths’ plan and was shot in the thigh during the bogus deal at New Beith in 2009.

Barrister Angus Edwards told the court that after the shooting Brunelle developed post traumatic stress disorder which led to him putting on weight then developing body dysmorphia disorder and a steroid addiction.

Richard Brunelle admitted to trafficking steroids. Picture: Facebook

“He became enamoured with the gym lifestyle and he started training seven days a week, he quit smoking and drinking alcohol,” Mr Edwards said.

“One might have thought that would be a good thing, except for the fact he was surrounded by other people who were also into that lifestyle and started taking steroids and body supplements.

“He fell into this business to pay his bills … and also to maintain his own steroid addiction.”

Mr Edwards described Brunelle as a loving family man who had taken steps towards rehabilitation and had plans to open a B&B with his fiancee.

Brunelle pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking and one count of possessing dangerous drugs.

Justice David Jackson said Brunelle had become a supplier because of “the culture” he was immersed in and accepted that his remorse and insight into his offending were genuine.

Brunelle was sentenced to 5.5 years’ jail and will be eligible for parole in June 2022.