Southeast Queensland’s 40 newest drug dealers exposed
A charity founder, a FIFO worker, grandfathers, childcare staff, and tradies — these are the public personas of Queensland’s newest drug dealers. See their names and faces.
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Drug crimes are among some of the most common principal offences committed in Australia today, accounting for one in 10 defendants finalised in the Magistrates Courts.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this is even more the case in Queensland.
Of the 84,389 offenders proceeded against by police across the state in 2020-21 — the last year for which statistics are available — a quarter of principal crimes were related to illicit drugs, making it the most common principal offence type in Queensland.
In the past six months, a total of 6020 drug offences were allegedly committed in the Brisbane region, while 4827 were allegedly committed in the South Eastern region, 3112 in the Southern region, and 2480 in the Central region.
Drug dealing in particular remains rife across the state, with News Corp’s southeast reporters covering dozens of relevant sentences in the past year alone.
The names of more than 40 drug dealers recently sentenced in Queensland courts can now be revealed. See the list.
Brent Andrew Loveridge, 37
Moreton Bay man Brent Andrew Loveridge was in danger of being deported to his home country of New Zealand after police discovered he was dealing meth, MDMA, cocaine, and marijuana.
A search of his phone revealed he organised 12 supplies of drugs in a period of about 10 to 12 days.
Loveridge received an 18-month suspended prison sentence, and 18 months’ probation, in the Brisbane Supreme Court last year having pleaded guilty to 12 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, and one count of possession.
Abbie Lee O’Brien, 38
A Brisbane drug dealer was told she was a “living example of how drugs can destroy lives” while being sentenced for selling heroin from her apartment.
The Brisbane District Court heard Abbie Lee O’Brien was using drugs the same time she was supplying.
She was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole for dealing drugs, as well as other offences.
Teneil Lee Hassan, 25
Former childcare worker turned drug dealer Teneil Lee Hassan faced penalty last year for supplying drugs, mostly street-level amounts of GHB, on 29 occasions in a period of about six weeks.
The Fortitude Valley woman pleaded guilty to the supply charges in the Brisbane District Court after police executed a search warrant at her apartment and found 13g of GBL.
She received a two-year jail sentence with immediate parole eligibility.
Bridgette Louise Taylor, 29
A Sunshine Coast hairdresser was said to be under the control of her boyfriend when she sold a total of 230g ice — 130g in one deal alone — in June, 2019.
Bridgette Louise Taylor pleaded guilty to seven charges including three counts of supply in Brisbane Supreme Court last year and was sentenced to five years’ jail, wholly suspended, and 240 hours’ community service.
Justice Peter Davis said he accepted Taylor was remorseful and that she had been manipulated and coerced into offending.
Jason Timothy Haaring, 36
A decision to sell “fake meth” landed Springwood dad Jason Timothy Haaring in a Brisbane court last year, where he pleaded guilty to eight charges including supplying and possessing dangerous drugs.
He was charged after police searched his car while conducting patrols in Fortitude Valley and found two glass jars of clear liquid containing butanediol and butenoic acid, which the court heard were related to his own GHB addiction, and clipseal bags containing 55g of crystal powder which he sold to another person.
The court heard Haaring was able to break his drug addiction following the incident. He was sentenced to six months’ prison suspended for two years.
Brothers Shane Ah-San, 33, Shamish Loane Lemi Ah-San, 27, and Shalom Tom Ah-San, 31
Two brothers from a religious family were jailed for selling ice and guns last month following an undercover police sting.
Former security guard Shane Ah-San pleaded guilty to selling commercial or wholesale amounts of ice and supplying guns, while his younger brother Shamish Loane Lemi Ah-San pleaded guilty to trafficking in ice.
A third brother, Shalom Tom Ah-San, also participated in Shane’s ice trafficking by supplying four ounces of ice on three occasions to an undercover police officer.
Shane was sentenced to seven years’ jail with parole eligibility from June 12, while Shamish received a five-year jail term to be suspended after serving one year.
Shalom was sentenced to four years’ prison, wholly suspended, after pleading guilty to three counts of drug supply and a charge of weapons supply.
Skye Ashley Chorley, 28
A major drug investigation revealed Logan mother Skye Ashley Chorley offered to facilitate the supply of methamphetamine.
She pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to more than 20 charges including eight counts of supplying drugs and one of driving with a relevant drug present.
The court heard Chorley had been using meth “quite heavily” when she offended, but she had since managed to quit. She was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for nine months.
Ross Stuart McCallum, 52
Gold Coast grandfather Ross Stuart McCallum was recently sentenced to nine years’ jail for trafficking an unknown quantity of methamphetamine to Australia over a 14-month period.
The Brisbane District Court heard he sourced ice from at least four suppliers in the US then posted the drugs to the Gold Coast in packages disguised as comic books, legal documents, or business documents.
The 52-year-old was said to have been an ice addict himself at the time of his offending. He pleaded guilty to nine charges including trafficking wholesale amounts of ice and drug supply, and was sentenced to nine years’ jail with parole eligibility after five years.
Christopher Mark Jensen, 34
A FIFO plumber from the Sunshine Coast turned reality TV star walked free from Brisbane Supreme Court despite pleading guilty to supplying cocaine and ecstasy and trafficking drugs over four months.
Christopher Mark Jensen was busted after police raided his Peregian Springs home and found $5800 cash as well as 197g of cannabis in a vacuum-sealed bag.
The Married At First Sight alumnus received a jail sentence of four years, which was suspended for four years, for the trafficking charge as well as a wholly suspended prison term of 18 months for the two supply charges.
Ben Alexander Townson, 32
Major crime investigation Operation Jackal resulted in the arrest, and later conviction, of former fitness instructor Ben Alexander Townson who supplied cocaine to one of his solicitors.
He pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to supplying his lawyer at the time, Shaune Irving, with $300 worth of cocaine in December, 2019.
Judge Vicki Loury sentenced the former personal trainer to three months’ jail to be added onto a 7.5-year term of imprisonment previously imposed for drug trafficking. He will be eligible for parole on March 15 this year.
Christine Northfield, 43
Despite her impressive education and career prospects, mum-of-two Christine Northfield became caught up in trafficking drugs including ice, ecstasy, and GHB following some personal traumas.
The Riverhills woman pleaded guilty to trafficking ice between October, 2019 and February, 2020 and to ten counts of supplying drugs and other drug-related charges in Brisbane Supreme Court just last month.
The court heard she was peddling the drugs while heavily pregnant.
Justice Peter Applegarth said he had sympathy for the effect drugs had on her own life but her actions had the potential to inflict “wicked damage” to others. Northfield was sentenced to four years’ jail, wholly suspended, and three years’ probation.
Samuel Leon Hoppe, 27
A Logan dad who pleaded guilty to a number of drug offences, including supplying and possessing drugs, said he carried out his crimes while unemployed and struggling to make ends meet for his family.
Samuel Leon Hoppe sold cannabis in $50 lots, advertising his business on Facebook in an act his lawyer called “exceptionally unsophisticated”.
He was sentenced in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court to four months’ prison suspended for 18 months.
Joshua Marcus Pope, 30
Yarrabilba man Joshua Marcus Pope faced court last year on four charges of supplying methamphetamine across Logan.
The court heard he had an “atrocious” criminal history which commenced after he was introduced to cannabis at age 12.
He was sentenced to 586 days in prison with immediate parole release.
Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson, 22
A 22-year-old dad-of-four caught selling more than 200g of methamphetamine to three different people was said to have had a history of using both ice and cannabis.
Jay Daniel Gibson-Lunson pleaded guilty to the three counts of drug supply in Beenleigh District Court last year and was sentenced to 12 months’ jail with immediate parole.
Bhodi Jaspa Ford, 20
Budding methamphetamine trafficker Bhodi Jaspa Ford had been operating for just 19 days, but had a desire to expand his business, when he was intercepted by police.
He pleaded guilty to a number of offences including drug trafficking and seven counts of supply in Brisbane Supreme Court in December.
Justice Peter Callaghan told him the day he was apprehended by police was the “luckiest day of your life” before sentencing him to three years’ jail with immediate parole. He had spent 276 days in pre-sentence custody.
Conan Visser, 37
Conan Visser, a children’s charity founder and TikTok creator, last year pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying drugs and one of possessing drugs.
The 37-year-old sourced cocaine for friends, though there was a commercial element to his operation.
He was sentenced to nine months’ jail which was immediately suspended for an operational period of two years.
Shaune Kerry James Irving, 41
Former lawyer Shaune Kerry James Irving was in the grips of severe mental illness when he was caught dealing cocaine three times in late 2019, Brisbane District Court heard this month.
His issues are believed to be related to his time as a war veteran serving tours in Iraq and East Timor.
Irving pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs and two of making false statutory declarations.
He received concurrent jail sentences of 12 and six months which were suspended for two years.
Hannah Christine Lovejoy, 27
A young mother who imported $75,000 worth of GBL received a “merciful” jail sentence after pleading guilty to crimes including drug trafficking and importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs.
Justice Soraya Ryan told Brisbane Supreme Court she recognised Hannah Christine Lovejoy was under the influence of her manipulative then-partner, the father of her child.
The 27-year-old was sentenced to six years’ jail for drug importation with parole eligibility after three years, as well as lesser concurrent jail sentences for other offences.
Thanh Lan Luong, 32
Thanh Lan Luong, a noodle delivery driver, pleaded guilty to four charges including one of trafficking and two of ice possession in the Brisbane Supreme Court late last year.
The court heard he trafficked in wholesale quantities of ice in Ipswich and Brisbane over a period of two months and 25 days between February and April, 2020.
He received a sentence of nine years’ jail for ice trafficking.
Rosemaree-Lee Ives, 35
A police raid of Ipswich mum Rosemaree-Lee Ives’ home in 2019 revealed she was dealing a range of drugs including methamphetamine, oxycodone, cannabis, and Buprenorphine.
The following year she was caught arranging the sale of 28g of meth for $4200 and $250 worth of an unknown drug.
Ives pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and one of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime. She was sentenced to 18 months’ jail with immediate parole.
Wayne Patu, 44
Father-daughter duo Wayne Patu and Aigataulagi Patu were busted trying to smuggle drugs into Borallon Training and Correctional Centre, where Mr Patu was detained.
Mr Patu organised the supply via phone calls, which were monitored. Police intercepted Ms Patu upon her arrival at the facility and she removed $26,700 worth of suboxone strips from her bra.
Both family members pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to one count of supplying dangerous drugs within a correctional facility. Mr Patu was sentenced to 12 months’ prison with immediate parole eligibility.
Ms Patu was ordered to serve two years’ probation and no conviction was recorded.
Sharon Maree Thoms, 55
The owner of an online jewellery business broke down in tears last year while being sentenced to jail for dealing methamphetamine.
Ipswich District Court heard Sharon Maree Thoms was using the drug herself when she was caught.
She pleaded guilty to nine counts of supplying drugs and was sentenced to 18 months’ jail. She was released on parole in June last year.
Liam Anthony Ding, 24
A removalist from Flinders View last year pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to 13 counts of supplying drugs including cannabis and MDMA over a period of 10 days.
Messages on Liam Anthony Ding’s devices revealed his plans to deal at locations including the Coles Ripley carpark and Brassall’s Mihi Tavern.
Ding received a prison sentence of 18 months with immediate parole release for his crimes.
Bernard O’Keefe, 52
Ipswich grandfather Bernard O’Keefe had a history of drug offending when he was caught with 90kg of cannabis and drug money exceeding $114,000.
He pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court last year to four drug charges including trafficking drugs, possessing drugs, and possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.
O’Keefe was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, which was suspended immediately for an operational period of five years.
Grahame William Rowe, 40
A Goodna boilermaker’s habit of trafficking cannabis for himself and his friends during the pandemic had grown “out of control” by the time he was busted with up to $220,000 worth of the drug in his home.
Grahame William Rowe pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing property obtained from drug trafficking.
The 40-year-old received a sentence of three years’ imprisonment which was suspended after he served five months.
Adrian Joel Molia, 37
A raid on Adrian Joel Molia’s family home in Karana Downs uncovered 27 indoor cannabis plants, while a search of his phone revealed details of eight drug deals — only two of which eventuated.
The 37-year-old, who sold the drug ‘casually’ to friends, pleaded guilty to possessing, producing, and supplying drugs, among other drug-related offences.
Molia was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, which was suspended, and two years’ probation.
Unnamed man
A man who cannot be named for legal reasons was caught supplying the marijuana he grew in his backyard to both his neighbour and his 16-year-old daughter.
More than 100g of marijuana, two small plants, and two mature plants were discovered at his home in October, 2020.
He pleaded guilty to 15 charges including supplying drugs to a minor, and possessing, supplying, and producing drugs and was sentenced to 18 months’ jail which was immediately suspended for two years.
Scott James Gordon, 22
Ipswich drug addict Scott James Gordon pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to eight drug offences including two counts of supplying cannabis, one of possessing $3000 worth of cannabis, and one of possessing $6600 worth of MDMA after police executed a search warrant at his home.
A search of his mobile phone revealed he supplied cannabis on each of the two days prior to the search warrant.
Gordon was sentenced to three years’ prison with immediate court-ordered parole.
Luke Joseph Meldon, 43
A high-profile boxing trainer from Brisbane was operating a “very intensive business of trafficking”, selling cocaine on more than 150 occasions to 47 customers over three months, at the same time he was running a gym.
Luke Joseph Meldon pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to trafficking cocaine, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing cash.
He was sentenced to four years’ jail, which was suspended after he served 12 days in pre-sentence custody, and two years’ probation.
Eugene Francis Bradshaw, 29
A search warrant executed at Eugene Francis Bradshaw’s Middle Park unit uncovered a drug stash comprising 80g of steroids and a small amount of cocaine.
The bodybuilder pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to both supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and was subsequently sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole.
The court heard WhatsApp messages on his phone revealed he sold $350 worth of cocaine to one buyer.
Richard Allen Brunelle, 40
US-born gym junkie Richard Allen Brunelle dispatched steroids and pharmaceuticals to more than 1700 people over six months while employed by a “highly sophisticated” trafficking business.
Brunelle pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking and one count of possessing dangerous drugs after $35,000 of testosterone was discovered at his Mount Warren Park home.
He was sentenced to 5.5 years’ jail and was made eligible for parole in June last year.
Alisha Erin Robinson, 32
A Paddington real estate agent faced sentence in Brisbane Supreme Court after pleading guilty to four drug offences: possessing $550 cash, possessing a large amount of cocaine, supplying the drug to an undercover police officer, and possessing digital scales.
The court heard Alisha Erin Robinson became caught up in the business after the untimely death of her partner.
She was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of two years.
Frances Gilmore Crouch, 57
Faced with immense debt following the passing of her husband, Frances Gilmore Crouch turned to drug trafficking to pay the bills.
She pleaded guilty in Beaudesert District Court to six charges including trafficking Oxycodone, Morphine, Nitrazepam and cannabis, and supplying and possessing drugs.
Crouch was sentenced to 2.5 years’ imprisonment with immediate parole release.
Trent Alan Mckay, 32
A hardworking mechanic from Brisbane, who described himself as a “homebody”, transformed into a nightclub ecstasy dealer after he became “increasingly attracted to and immersed in” the party lifestyle.
Trent Alan Mckay predominantly sold MDMA, but also cocaine on one occasion, and was caught posting an advertisement for LSD and cannabinoids.
He pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to trafficking drugs, possessing MDMA, possessing cocaine, and two counts of possessing things used in the commission of a crime and was sentenced to five years’ prison to be suspended after 12 months.
Lewis James Edhouse, 25
Moreton Bay man Lewis James Edhouse outed himself to undercover police officers in a popular Brisbane pub, bragging about being a “drug dealer” before supplying them with MDMA capsules and cocaine.
He pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to eight offences including possessing MDMA, possessing the suspected proceeds of a drug offence, and six counts of supplying drugs.
The court heard the supply offences occurred at the Stock Exchange Hotel on Edward St.
Edhouse was sentenced to a 12-month term of imprisonment which was wholly suspended for two years.
Jasmine Louise Lousick, 39
A Nundah mum-of-five pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to nine counts of supplying methamphetamine, the offences taking place following the breakdown of a seven-year relationship.
The court heard Jasmine Louise Lousick was introduced to the drug by the father of her first three children, and after they split she “increasingly used” until it became “problematic”.
She was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment with parole release on January 16 last year.
Jason ‘JT’ Trouchet, 47
Jason ‘JT’ Trouchet, a key figure in the infamous Broadbeach bikie brawl on the Gold Coast, came before a District Court after supplying unknown quantities of methamphetamine and GHB to eight people on 11 occasions over a 12-month period.
He pleaded guilty in Southport District Court to 11 counts of supplying methamphetamine and GHB and one count of unlawfully possessing an illegal substance.
Trouchet was sentenced to 12 months’ jail which was suspended after five days in custody.
Bianca Monique Kirchner, 30
A Logan woman trafficked ice and cannabis to 57 customers on 103 occasions in a period of just three weeks.
Bianca Monique Kirchner of Crestmead pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
The court heard the 30-year-old was addicted to ice when she offended, but she kicked the habit following her three days in custody.
Daniel Robert Maric, 22
Phone calls intercepted by police uncovered the drug business dealings of Logan dealer Daniel Robert Maric who met his customers at a local spa.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to three counts of supplying a dangerous drug. He was on parole when he committed the offences.
Maric received a one-month imprisonment sentence for each charge to be served concurrently and with immediate parole eligibility.
Do you have information regarding a person or people involved in manufacturing or distributing an illegal drug in Queensland? Report the criminal behaviour here.
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