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Named and shamed: Qld’s newly convicted meth peddlersexposed

A former preschool teacher, corrections officer and successful businessman: Step inside the courthouse and see how peddling meth has led promising lives down dark paths.

The surprising history of meth

Meet the Queensland drug dealers who profited off meth crimes.

Methamphetamine addiction continues to run rampant throughout Queensland, with a rapid increase in the number of meth-related deaths and a high usage rate among young adults being recorded across the country.

Here are over 30 names in court this year who have added to the state’s drug dealing statistics.

CONVICTIONS RECORDED

Darren Steven Burnell

A drug trafficker who tried to flee police on a motorcycle, crashed into a car and tried to outrun officers before being tackled, was busted with $25,560 cash and drugs in his backpack.

Darren Steven Burnell, 42, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton in May.

Drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42.
Drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42.

He was one of two main targets of 12-month police operation Sierra Decompress, which targeted drug trafficking in the Rockhampton region.

His trafficking business started 12 days after being intercepted by police while driving on November 6, 2020 with 11.566g of pure meth in 23.451g of substance and one gram of cocaine plus a cutting agent in the glovebox of his car.

He was sentenced to five years prison, suspended after serving two years and operational for five years.

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Reece William Luscombe

Meth trafficker Reece William Luscombe was driving around in a Maserati claimed in a drug debt and had $100,000 stashed in his home, a court has heard.

He pleaded guilty to trafficking in Mackay Supreme Court and was jailed for nine years with a parole eligibly on August 15, 2023.

The court heard he was in control of more than one kilogram pure methylamphetamines when he trafficked drugs for six months between 2019 and 2020.

Reece William Luscombe, 30.
Reece William Luscombe, 30.

When police searched his Rural View home in late March 2020 as part of operation Romeo Suitcase, detectives seized $108,620 in cash, 185.932 grams of pure meth in 320.383 grams of substance, weapons and a luxury car.

The drugs had a street value between $38,000 and $44,000.

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Martijn De Raad

Police managed to nab Toowoomba meth trafficker Martijn De Raad after he arrived at an unrelated property that was subject to a drug raid, a court has been told.

The court heard his addiction to ice began in 2019 which quickly spiralled into him trafficking the drug across Toowoomba.

Martijn de Raad
Martijn de Raad

De Raad came to the attention of police on August 24, 2019 when he arrived at a Toowoomba address that was the subject of a police drug raid.

A search of his vehicle uncovered a large quantity of drugs, including 9.2g of meth, 10g of MDMA, 0.842g of cocaine as well as $3020 in cash.

His phone was seized which revealed De Raad’s trafficking over a six-month period where he sold street level quantities of drugs to at least 50 people.

De Raad pleaded guilty in Toowoomba Supreme Court to trafficking in dangerous drugs and other offences. Justice Burns convicted him and sentenced him to three years jail. With 83 days of pre-sentence custody as time served he was released on immediate parole.

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Kyle James Field

The main drug runner of a methamphetamine syndicate had no criminal record before participating in the multimillion-dollar illegal enterprise.

Kyle James Field, 27, pleaded guilty in March at the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to one count of trafficking a dangerous drug and other offences.

Field’s trafficking of drugs took place between May 14, 2019 and February 20, 2020.

The court heard one of Field’s customers owed him $20,000 at one stage.

Field was the third of three men in the syndicate to be jailed after Nicholas Blaine Carey, 30, and Beau Anthony Graham, 27, were sentenced on February 24.

Carey and Graham pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs between January 1, 2019 and February 20, 2020 in the Rockhampton and Yeppoon areas.

Nicholas Blaine Carey, 30, was sentenced to nine years and nine months prison for trafficking over $2m of meth in 14-months in 2019 and 2020.
Nicholas Blaine Carey, 30, was sentenced to nine years and nine months prison for trafficking over $2m of meth in 14-months in 2019 and 2020.

Justice Graeme Crow said police started investigating the trio’s meth trafficking business in June 2019. It is believed the trio sourced eight kilograms of meth during the trafficking period with calculations putting the revenue in the ballpark of $2.285 million.

However, there could be no accurate figures obtained based on police evidence.

“This was a very large wholesale commercial meth enterprise,” Justice Crow said.

Justice Crow sentenced Field to eight years prison with parole eligibility on November 6, 2023.

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Vanessa Eileen Fielder, Albert Thomas O’Neill and Electra Tracey Knight

A trio has been sentenced in a Rockhampton court for their drug trafficking business after police uncovered $65,000 cash and a meth stash.

Vanessa Eileen Fielder, Albert Thomas O’Neill and Electra Tracey Knight were sentenced in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton for their roles in the drug trafficking enterprise.

Knight, 37, pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying a dangerous drug, one of possessing more than two grams of a dangerous drug and one of possessing Australian currency reasonably suspected to be tainted property.

Electra Tracey Knight leaving Rockhampton courthouse.
Electra Tracey Knight leaving Rockhampton courthouse.

Fielder, 35, and O’Neill, 31, both pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking, with the court hearing Fielder started trafficking before O’Neill became involved.

The court heard the trafficking operation ran from March 5, 2020 to June 13, 2020 with Knight supplying drugs seven times during that period in Norman Gardens and O’Neill starting his role in the business on May 8, 2020.

Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said Fielder directed Knight to carry out the supplies.

Albert Thomas O’Neill, along with his partner Vanessa Eileen Fielder, were sentenced in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on May 18 for trafficking methamphetamines.
Albert Thomas O’Neill, along with his partner Vanessa Eileen Fielder, were sentenced in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on May 18 for trafficking methamphetamines.

Ms Yousufzai said messages on the phones located in the searches contained the evidence for the trafficking.

She said the business owed its supplier $8,900 on June 6, 2020, and prior to that, “they had repaid their supplier $33,000”.

“The business sourced and supplied between 336 grams and 364 grams of meth,” she said.

Justice Davis sentenced Knight to 12 months prison with immediate parole.

He sentenced O’Neil to three years prison, declared one day presentence custody as time served and set parole release on May 16, 2023.

Justice Davis sentenced Fielder to four years prison, suspended after serving 15 months and operational for four years.

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Liz Beth Jamieson

A former corrections officer who started “abusing drugs” after her employment ended has been sentenced for supplying methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA.

Liz Beth Jamieson, 31, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to 24 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, one count of possessing anything used in the commission of crime, and 10 summary drug related offences.

Liz Beth Jamieson was sentenced for drug supply. Picture: Facebook
Liz Beth Jamieson was sentenced for drug supply. Picture: Facebook

Crown prosecutor Madalyn Olivero said police found a phone containing text messages about “12 supplies of methamphetamine actually happened and discussion of payment for those supplies” during a search of Jamieson’s Sunshine Coast home on January 24, 2021.

The court heard the text messages dated back to July and October 2020.

Jamieson was granted bail in January 2021 however she was arrested in February after police discovered cocaine, methamphetamine, drug utensils and nearly $6000 in cash in her car in Coochin Creek.

She was sentenced to two years imprisonment and granted immediate parole.

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Brent Andrew Loveridge

A New Zealand citizen with a history of drug offences is at risk of having his visa cancelled and being deported to his home country after police discovered he was dealing meth, marijuana, MDMA and cocaine.

When police searched Brent Andrew Loveridge’s Narangba home in 2020 they found clip seal bags containing meth and cocaine, glass pipes, a clip seal bag with 5g of marijuana, a homemade taser in the shape of a torch and scales.

Narangba man Brent Andrew Loveridge, 37.
Narangba man Brent Andrew Loveridge, 37.

Loveridge, 37, was home with his partner during the search and police seized both their phones however when officers later unlocked Loveridge’s phone they realised it had been wiped remotely and reset.

His drug dealing then came to light after police obtained a search warrant and received 10 to 12 days’ worth of Loveridge’s stored data from Optus, which revealed he had organised 12 supplies of meth, marijuana and cocaine in that time.

On one occasion, Loveridge organised to supply an unknown quantity of meth for some jewellery and $600 cash, the Brisbane Supreme Court heard.

He also supplied “two points” of meth for $170, another 0.5g of meth for $250, an unknown amount of marijuana for $40 and MDMA and cocaine for unknown amounts.

Loveridge pleaded guilty in court to 12 counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count of possessing dangerous drugs specified in schedule 1 or 2.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment to be suspended for 18 months.

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Maree Ann Johnson

A Sunshine Coast mum charged with 16 counts of supplying methamphetamines while on probation has avoided jail time after a court heard she had a “traumatic” brain injury which could put her at risk in custody.

Maree Ann Johnson, 39, faced the Maroochydore District Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to 16 charges.

The mother-of-two was charged with supplying drugs after police searched her house in 2019, finding digital scales and two mobile phones which were analysed, revealing her details of her dealing.

Maree Ann Johnson was sentenced to 2.5 years with immediate parole for supplying meth on 16 occasions in 2019.
Maree Ann Johnson was sentenced to 2.5 years with immediate parole for supplying meth on 16 occasions in 2019.

Crown prosecutor William Slack said Johnson had supplied meth to people on 14 occasions and was charged with supplying the drug to herself, with the intent to resell it, on two occasions in July 2019.

He said the quantities ranged between 0.1g and 1.75g, the latter commonly known as a “half ball”.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said Johnson’s offending happened at a time when she was in a relationship “littered with domestic violence.”

In 2011, Johnson “fell or was ejected” from a car doing 60km/h and suffered a “traumatic” brain injury, the court heard.

Johnson was given head sentence of two and a half years with immediate parole.

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Emmanuel Petueli Komung

A drug courier, who was ferrying kilos of methamphetamines in hidden car compartments, as part of a multimillion dollar trafficking operation, has been sentenced to nine years’ jail.

Emmanuel Petueli Komung, who was paid between $2500 and $5000 a week, personally delivered at least 30 kilograms of methamphetamine to customers over seven months.

The Supreme Court heard the drug trafficking operation sold at least 83 kilograms of the drug in that time, with 50 kilograms having a street value of $5.75 million and $6.6 million.

Emmanuel Petueli Komung pleaded guilty to trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine MDMA and GHB.
Emmanuel Petueli Komung pleaded guilty to trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine MDMA and GHB.

Komung, 29, a father-of-two, pleaded guilty to trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine MDMA and GHB, as a participant in a criminal organisation in association with others.

Justice Burns sentenced Komung to nine years’ jail, with parole eligibility after he serves three and a half years, and he declared four days he had spent in custody as time served.

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Skye Ashley Chorley

A pregnant Logan mother has appeared in court charged with multiple drug supply charges after being targeted by police and raided during a major drug investigation.

Skye Ashley Chorley, 28, of Flagstone, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court in April to more than 20 charges, including eight counts of supplying dangerous drugs, four counts of stealing and one of driving with a relevant drug present.

Flagstone woman Skye Ashley Chorley
Flagstone woman Skye Ashley Chorley

The court heard police from the Jimboomba criminal investigations branch commenced an operation targeting drug offenders in May 2020.

They seized a number of devices from primary targets which identified Chorley as a person of interest and executed a warrant at her residence in Beaudesert on July 6, 2020.

Police seized her phone and found a number of messages about the supply of dangerous drugs including meth.

Chorley was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for nine months.

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Mellessa “Ruby” Togo

A mum at the centre of a drug ring, selling meth and cannabis to more than 100 customers, has been told her daughter would be “better off without her” if she doesn’t walk away from her life of crime.

Mellessa “Ruby” Togo, 35, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

She came to the attention of police while they were targeting a drug operation in Hervey Bay.

Mellessa “Ruby” Togo, 35, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to drug trafficking.
Mellessa “Ruby” Togo, 35, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

During her offending, Togo allegedly sourced the drugs from a man who police allege ran the operation between Hervey Bay and Logan.

Police found evidence of 200 actual supplies of drugs to more than 100 different customers and 140 attempts to supply over a period of about five months.

The quantities were not clear, but the drugs were understood to have been sold at street levels.

Togo was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. She was given parole eligibility on June 23.

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Carly Therese Anderson

A couple’s lucrative drug trafficking ring came to an end when a police raid uncovered $17,000 cash and more than 90g of pure methylamphetamine in their bedroom.

Sunshine Coast mum Carly Therese Anderson, 38, was sentenced in January for her role in the major trafficking operation.

The Brisbane Supreme Court heard that Anderson’s offending was revealed through a police sting targeting her then partner’s trafficking operation.

Carly Therese Anderson leaves Brisbane Supreme Court after being sentenced for drug trafficking.
Carly Therese Anderson leaves Brisbane Supreme Court after being sentenced for drug trafficking.

Anderson’s partner was running a meth trafficking ring with six agents, at least 15 customers and he had made at least 82 supplies ranging in quantities from 0.2g to 10 ounces.

Anderson was charged with trafficking after she “assisted” her partner for about six weeks between July and August 2020.

Anderson’s defence lawyer said the Coast mum had suffered significant addiction and had been subjected to domestic violence in the past, which contributed to her “acquiescence” to engage in criminal activity for her partner.

Justice David Boddice said while the drug trafficking ring was her partner’s, Anderson played an “active” role in the operation. She was given a head sentence of three years with an immediate parole release.

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Coen James Madden Spooner

A Logan labourer’s secret life of supplying drugs has been revealed in court after cops busted him with a gun and over 40 grams of meth.

Park Ridge man Coen James Madden Spooner, 28, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to four counts of supplying dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of possessing a weapon.

The court heard Madden Spooner was found in possession of 42.5 grams of meth, a handgun and a small quantity of cannabis at Park Ridge on December 8, 2020.

Park Ridge man Coen James Madden Spooner, 28. Picture: Facebook
Park Ridge man Coen James Madden Spooner, 28. Picture: Facebook

He was also charged with supplying meth to another person on October 18, October 23, December 6 and December 7 in 2020.

Madden Spooner’s defence lawyer said he began using ice/meth recreationally at age 20, and his drug addiction grew over the next five years to a point where he was smoking a gram a day.

After spending 451 days in custody, he said Spooner had been able to get clean and had also completed a substance intervention program.

He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with immediate parole release.

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Rosemaree-Lee Ives

A drug dealing mother, who police linked to a wholesale seller, was caught selling a cocktail of drugs which included crystal meth, opioids, oxycodone, and cannabis.

Mother of six Rosemaree-Lee Ives faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on March 17 charged with supplying dangerous drugs.

Rosemaree-Lee Ives.
Rosemaree-Lee Ives.

The court heard Gatton police raided Ives’ home during February 2019, and uncovered text messages detailing the supply of methamphetamine, oxycodone, cannabis, and Buprenorphine.

Police raided Ives’ home during October 2020 after they took out a ‘wholesale’ dealer and found messages between the pair.

On that occasion, Ives was caught arranging the sale of 28g of meth for $4200, and $250 worth of an unknown drug.

Ives’ legal representation said his client, who worked on a farm, was a different person at the time of the crimes.

The court heard Ives held great shame and regret for “choosing” drugs over her first family, and had since made considerable strides towards improving her life and was the sole carer of her six and eight-year-old daughters.

Ives pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime, and was sentenced to an 18 month jail term with immediate parole.

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Klair Reid-Hutchinson

A mum, who made money selling meth, MDMA and cocaine was this week told by a judge to decide whether her love of drugs was greater than her love for her children.

Klair Reid-Hutchinson, 28, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and another of possessing dangerous drugs.

Klair Reid-Hutchinson, 28, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and another of possessing dangerous drugs.
Klair Reid-Hutchinson, 28, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and another of possessing dangerous drugs.

The court heard Reid-Hutchinson sold drugs for about a month and on at least three occasions, text messages indicated the deals had gone through.

Reid-Hutchinson was offering meth, cannabis, MDMA and cocaine and had a pricing system, the court was told, with the text messages also indicating she had access to and was willing to sell larger quantities of drugs.

Justice Crow sentenced Reid-Hutchinson to three years in prison, with immediate release on parole.

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Wayne Bevon William Burnell

A man who once used a shovel to break bones in his neighbour’s face has been jailed for assisting his brother in his alleged drug trafficking business, including carrying out violent drug debt collections.

Wayne Bevon William Burnell, 38.
Wayne Bevon William Burnell, 38.

Wayne Bevon William Burnell, 38, pleaded guilty on February 23 in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to trafficking dangerous drugs.

The court heard Burnell assisted in an alleged methamphetamines and marijuana trafficking business for 2.5 months of the six month operation period.

The charges were laid after police intercepted telecommunications involving drug trafficking of meth and marijuana in Central Queensland and a search of Wayne Burnell’s Depot Hill residence on February 2, 2021.

Justice Crow sentenced Wayne Burnell to three years prison, declared 386 days presentence custody and set parole release for April 1, 2022.

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Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson

A father-of-four has escaped a jail term after he was caught selling more than 200g of meth when police discovered alarming evidence of the transaction.

Waterford West resident, Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson, pleaded guilty in the Beenleigh District court on three counts of supplying schedule one dangerous drugs.

Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson, 22.
Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson, 22.

The 22-year-old was caught attempting to supply 75g of methamphetamine to three different people on three different occasions between May and June of last year.

The court heard Mr Gibson-Lunson was on parole when police found evidence of drug transaction on his phone.

Judge Kent also warned the defendant of the impact continuing to use or supply drugs could have on his partner and four children.

He was convicted and received 12 months imprisonment with immediate parole.

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Brette Kathleen Livingstone Earl

A mother, preschool teacher and volunteer firefighter was introduced to a highly addictive drug after moving to Central Queensland.

Brette Kathleen Livingstone Earl, 33, pleaded guilty on June 3 in Rockhampton District Court to 15 counts of supplying illegal drugs.

Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said police discovered the supplies – 10 offers to supply methamphetamines of which three occurred and five of offering to supply marijuana of which three occurred – after intercepting her driving on July 16, 2021.

She said police executed a search warrant at Earl’s residence on June 19, 2021, and located a clip-seal bag with an illegal drug residue, a used syringe with blood on it, straws and two homemade drug pipes.

Ms Yousufzai said the supplies took place over a 39-day period towards the end of June to mid-July in 2021.

She was sentenced to 15 months’ prison, wholly suspended and operational for 15 months.

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Damien John Arnold

A Rockhampton dad who was a “pawn” in a drug trafficking operation has been told his involvement in the syndicate was “truly evil”, with a judge reluctant to let him walk free.

Damien John Arnold, 46, pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Supreme Court to drug trafficking and possessing more than 2g of meth.

Arnold’s offending was uncovered during a major police drug operation called Romeo Holt, which targeted a drug syndicate led by a man in South East Queensland.

Damien John Arnold pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Supreme Court to drug trafficking.
Damien John Arnold pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

For a period of about three months between December 28 2019 and April 2020 Arnold, and his partner at the time, participated in a drug trafficking operation where he would purchase drugs in street and wholesale quantities, the court heard.

Drugs purchased included marijuana and methamphetamine.

Arnold, a machine operator, would use encrypted messaging apps to communicate with the syndicate leader and used electronic tick sheets to “conceal the full extent” of his trafficking activities.

He would pay between $3550 and $4600 per ounce for meth, with the largest quantity of four ounces costing more than $17,000.

In total he purchased 24 ounces of meth for more than $102,000.

He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with an immediate parole release after 276 days of presentence custody was declared as time already served.

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Elijah Kenneth Doughty

A drug trafficker received the best birthday present he could get – no actual time in prison for his crimes.

Elijah Kenneth Doughty, 28, was sentenced in the Supreme Court on December 8 last year after earlier pleading guilty to one count of trafficking drugs.

Koongal resident Elijah Kenneth Doughty, 28, trafficked meth and marijuana and was busted with 36g of marijuana seeds
Koongal resident Elijah Kenneth Doughty, 28, trafficked meth and marijuana and was busted with 36g of marijuana seeds

Doughty, who was sentenced on his birthday, had previously been handed a two-year probation order for producing drugs.

However, the father-of-two has never spent a day in prison despite his 10-year criminal record containing drug related offences.

This time, Doughty was busted trafficking marijuana and methamphetamines over a two-month period in 2018 to 16 customers in 51 supplies, sometimes offering customers ‘two for one’ type deals and taking payments in forms of electrical goods such as ear pods.

Justice Crow sentenced Doughty to three years prison with immediate parole.

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Cara Jo Robertson

A pregnant meth dealer who “bought” the drug off her “controlling” boyfriend before onselling it to her cousin, has avoided actual jail time despite her growing rap sheet.

Cara Jo Robertson, 30, pleaded guilty in the District Court at Rockhampton on February 16 to five drugs charges – the most serious being supplying methamphetamines.

Cara Jo Robertson.
Cara Jo Robertson.

Legal officer for the Crown Claire Brtevnik said on March 29, 2021, Robertson supplied another person with 1.5g of methamphetamine “on credit”.

Police later searched her home and found $650 cash and Robertson conceded a portion of the cash was from selling meth.

Her lawyer said at the time of this latest offending, Robertson was in a relationship with a man who was “heavily involved in methamphetamine”.

“She describes him as controlling and manipulative,” Ms Shaw said.

Judge Clarke sentenced Robertson to 18 months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years. Convictions were recorded.

Caleb William Hoar

He was a young father of two who a court heard was trafficking drugs to make ends meet.

The Cairns Supreme Court heard how Caleb William Hoar’s mother passed away in January the previous year when he was 22, before he began trafficking and operating a “profitable drug business” between March and May of that year.

Caleb William Hoar, 24, was convicted and sentenced for trafficking dangerous drugs.
Caleb William Hoar, 24, was convicted and sentenced for trafficking dangerous drugs.

Crown prosecutor Jodie Crane told the court police intercepted text messages from Hoar’s mobile phone that proved he was “frequently” trafficking cannabis and methylamphetamine for a two-week period between March 6 and 19.

However, she said his admissions in a police interview on May 28, 2020, extended that period for the entire two months.

Ms Crane said based on the transactions in the text messages it was estimated Hoar profited between $10,000 to $12,000 over the two months, a figure he accepted when questioned by Justice Jim Henry.

Representing himself, Hoar said the raid in May 2020 was the “biggest wake-up call” and he had since secured his first job at a Yarrabah banana farm.

Justice Henry sentenced him to Two-and-a-half years imprisonment, for trafficking, one month for possession and one month for producing dangerous drugs with a parole release date of May 11, 2022.

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Lauren Linda Maddigan

Aformer social worker, Edge Hill meth drug trafficker Lauren Linda Maddigan’s fall from grace was pronounced.

Her path to drug trafficking, the Cairns District Court heard in March, began when she was forced illicit drugs in her sleep by an abusive ex-partner.

From there she spiralled into an addiction, eventually turning to selling drugs for money, the court heard.

Maddigan, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking methylamphetamine between July 3 and September 1, 2020, as well as one count of possessing methylamphetamine, cannabis and diazepam.

Having already spent 97 days in pre-sentence custody, Justice Henry sentenced Maddigan to three years imprisonment with a parole date of August 24, 2022.

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Mark David Gladwin

Already serving out a sentence for possessing more than $30,000 worth of meth, the trafficking operation that gave a successful Far North businessman access to the drug in the first place earned him some extra time in jail.

Mark David Gladwin pleaded guilty to trafficking methylamphetamine in the Cairns Supreme Court in February 2022.

Mark David Gladwin, 41.
Mark David Gladwin, 41.

The court heard the former military man trafficked methylamphetamine around Cairns between February 1, 2020, and April 21, 2020.

He was eventually picked up in his hotel room on April 20, 2020, with more than 100g of pure methylamphetamine, which the court heard he had previously received a five-year prison sentence for.

The seizure of Gladwin’s telephone revealed to police the extent of his drug trafficking over the period.

He sentenced him to seven years’ in jail, taking into account 652 days already served.

Gladwin will be eligible for parole on August 19, 2022.

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Angela Gay Dean

A mum with “ambitions to grow” her meth trafficking business has been released on immediate parole.

Angela Gay Dean, 45, was sentenced in the Townsville Supreme Court for trafficking dangerous drugs over her involvement in the “commercial enterprise”.

Crown Prosecutor Joshua Francis said that over a nine month period, Dean trafficked meth across North Queensland with her business partner James Noel Alex Willingham.

In September 2021, Willingham was sentenced to three years jail for trafficking in dangerous drugs and supplying dangerous drugs. His parole release date was March 31, 2022.

The court heard that Dean had “ambitions to grow the business” and would source larger quantities from time to time and expand the use of the product by cutting it with an agent to lower the purity.

The Crown said the seizure of a mobile phone revealed incriminating evidence against Dean and that it was not possible to quantify the profits they made from selling drugs.

Justice North sentenced Dean to three years imprisonment, but she was granted immediate parole after having served 10 months already behind bars.

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John Durham Willey

Losing a pound of meth and $2450 cash when his alleged business partner was caught up in a traffic intercept wasn’t enough to dissuade John Durham Willey from his drug trafficking enterprise.

Nor was it enough to raise his suspicions that this was more than a case of a bumbling business partner who was flapping his gums about town.

In actual fact, both their phones had been tapped by police during Operation Sierra Footrope.

So it was truly remarkable that after his alleged partner was arrested at Brisbane Airport with $84,100 in cryo-vacced cash on his person a month later in June 2020, Willey still carried on trafficking drugs.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in February 2022 to trafficking methylamphetamine and cannabis, and refusing to hand over the pin code to his mobile phone.

The court heard Willey trafficked methylamphetamine to a range of customers around the Far North, across a five month period, in amounts ranging from a point to a ball – 3.5g of meth.

He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in the Cairns Supreme Court, with a parole eligibility date of December 20, 2022.

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Delilah Jean Simpson

A Gladstone mother with a significant history of supplying meth has once again been sentenced for “spreading the misery” of addictive drugs.

Delilah Jean Simpson, 34, pleaded guilty in the District Court of Gladstone to a number of drug-related charges, including supply and possession of dangerous drugs, namely methamphetamine.

The sentence included 12 supply charges on varying dates between 22 June 2021 and 6 July 2021 to nine different buyers.

The supply and intent to supply charges included selling 1.5 grams of meth for $650, and a gram of cannabis for $25.

Judge Chowdhury said supplying dangerous drugs had a devastating impact on not only the individual but the entire community.

“You’re a living example of the absolute devastation amphetamines cause to people in this community,” Judge Chowdhury said.

Simpson was sentenced to a further two years imprisonment, taking into account 239 days of time already served, with a parole eligibility date on April 1, 2022.

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Alena Eve Pyke

Gympie mother of five Alena Eve Pyke, 36, pleaded guilty to six charges of supplying drugs as well as possessing a phone used to organise a series of small methylamphetamine deals in 2020.

The court heard Pyke dealt at least 9g of the drug to an undercover officer between March 19 and May 16 last year.

The court heard Pyke was an intermediary and was ‘paid’ not in cash for arranging the deals but in small amounts of the drug for her own use.

Pyke’s lawyer told the court his client was arrested on September 2020 and then remanded in custody in July, 2021. She was pregnant at the time.

Judge Glen Cash sentenced Pyke to remain in jail until December 14 with parole for a further 10 months.

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Belinda Jayne Pollock

A Central Queensland mother who has battled a drug addiction for 15 years has been jailed for trafficking methamphetamines.

Belinda Jayne Pollock, 39, carried out at least 23 supplies for about 45.75g of methamphetamine to about 15 customers, the Rockhampton Supreme Court heard.

Police executed a search warrant on her Gladstone house and found a phone, a stolen tablet, 0.11g of meth, empty clip seal bags, seven water pipes, digital scales, a joint and a marijuana bud on July 23, 2020.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said Pollock had engaged with services in the past year and wanted to remain drug free.

Pollock pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking, three counts of drug possession, one count of receiving tainted property, two counts of possessing items used in the commission of a drug offence, two count of possessing drug utensils, one count of driving while demerit point suspended and one count of drug driving.

Justice Crow sentenced her to 3.5 years imprisonment with immediate parole eligibility.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/named-and-shamed-qlds-newly-convicted-meth-peddlersexposed/news-story/0de6c8d20b363af540dfc54da27c7c01