Staci Lewis: Brisbane accounting student in massive drug bust

A Brisbane woman has been sentenced after police discovered an extraordinary stash of dangerous drugs at her residence.

A Brisbane accounting student with no previous criminal convictions has been sentenced after she was discovered in possession of an extraordinary stash of illicit drugs and cash belonging to she and her allegedly drug-trafficking boyfriend.

Upper Mount Gravatt woman Staci Leigh Lewis, 29, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday to 15 drug-related offences.

They included five counts of supplying a dangerous drug, three of aggravated possession of a Schedule 1 dangerous drug, one of aggravated possession of a Schedule 2 dangerous drug, two of possessing a dangerous drug, and charges of receiving tainted property and possessing a thing used in connection with a drug offence, among others.

The court heard Lewis, at the time of her offending, was in a relationship with a 25-year-old Upper Mount Gravatt man who operated a “sophisticated and professional business trafficking in a large array of drugs” between April and November 2019.

Her partner allegedly had more than 100 customers to whom he supplied dangerous drugs on more than 350 occasions.

Upper Mount Gravatt woman Staci Leigh Lewis, 29. Picture: Facebook

Lewis, who according to Facebook is a former resident of the Morayfield area and was born in Toowoomba, was originally charged with aiding in her partner’s trafficking business, but this was discontinued.

On November 25, 2019, police conducted a search warrant on Lewis’ address.

This uncovered 45.65g pure cocaine, 24.65g pure MDMA, half a kilogram of cannabis, a small quantity of amphetamine, $37,000 cash and a variety of drug paraphernalia, among other drugs and items.

Also discovered was a tick sheet written in Lewis’ hand, although this only covered a period of a couple of days.

Analysis of Lewis’ phone revealed she had supplied a friend with six MDMA capsules, and offered to supply dangerous drugs on four other occasions.

It was submitted on Lewis’ behalf she was “not aware” of the extent of her partner’s trafficking operation.

The court heard Lewis fell into using dangerous drugs at age 21 and suffered a cycle of rehabilitation and relapse.

She is halfway through a Bachelor of Accounting with Central Queensland University and works part-time in administration, the court heard.

It was submitted on her behalf she is an “intelligent young woman with excellent prospects” of rehabilitation.

She was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.