Mongols member Mark Simpson set to marry in prison after being sentenced on drug, gun charges

Prison isn’t going to stop a Mongols member from tying the knot, a court has heard, after he was sentenced and convicted on a number of drug and gun charges in the Red Centre.

Alice Springs Supreme Court. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A bikie busted with cocaine and a gun two days before finishing parole has been sent back to prison – but it won’t stop his marriage plans, a Red Centre court has heard.

Mongols member Mark Simpson, 48, was on Friday sent back to prison by Alice Springs Supreme Court Justice Meredith Day Huntingford.

Simpson had pleaded guilty on February 4 in the same court to possessing cocaine with an intent to deal it, possessing a gun while unlicensed, possessing ammunition for the gun, and not storing the gun properly.

In 2021, Simpson was released on parole after he was sentenced to 10 years prison for one count of supplying a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, Justice Huntingford told the court.

Mark Simpson, 48, was sentenced in the Alice Springs Supreme Court on Friday, February 14. Picture: Facebook

She said that two days before his parole was set to expire, on February 27 last year, Simpson was busted trying to import cocaine into Alice Springs through the mail.

The package was found by police at the Alice Springs post office during a random screening of mail, the court heard.

The cocaine was found in a vacuum sealed bag, concealed in a “stuffed child’s toy”.

A total of 83.89 grams of cocaine was detected, and was linked back to Simpson when his partner picked up the package at the post office.

Justice Huntingford said Simpson’s partner was arrested once she picked up the package, but she did not name Simpson, nor go into detail if she was charged in relation to the package.

The Mongols patch.

However, Justice Huntingford did mention the pair had a six month non-contact order under Simpson’s bail conditions.

“You say that this was a difficult time for you because she is your sole emotional support, and the inability to contact her meant that you also faced difficulties organising your financial affairs while in prison,” she said.

Simpson’s lawyer Lyma Nguyen submitted this non-contact order amounted to extra-curial punishment, but Justice Huntingford rejected this.

“I’m told that in spite of your recent incarceration, your relationship remains strong and you are now engaged to be married,” Justice Huntingford said.

Simpson was arrested in Yuendumu after his partner picked up the package, and during a search of his home police found scales and a credit card with cocaine residue on them, the court heard.

Justice Meredith Day Huntingford. Picture: Supplied

A 22. a rifle and ammunition was also found by police.

The court heard Simpson had an extensive criminal history dating back to 1992, which included a jury finding him guilty of “a violent offence” in 2003, Justice Huntingford said.

Originally from Darwin, Simpson was a sponsored competitive powerlifter in his 20s and was set to travel to Finland to compete at one stage – however, his previous criminal charges stopped him from travelling internationally.

Justice Huntingford praised Simpson’s “strong work history”, which began when he was a teenager and saw him employed as a construction worker, a security guard, a storeman, and more.

She handed down a non-parole period of 18 months.

He got three years for his attempt at cocaine dealing, 10 months for possessing the rifle., two weeks for the ammo, and three months for meeting firearm storage requirements.

His sentence was backdated to his February 2024 arrest date, and his gun sentences will be served concurrent with his drug sentence.

Originally published as Mongols member Mark Simpson set to marry in prison after being sentenced on drug, gun charges