Phillip John Filliponi: Shepparton truck driver jailed for dealing with the proceeds of crime

A Shepparton truck driver who tried to smuggle over $2.3 million across the NSW-Queensland border has been jailed by a Lismore judge and labelled a “trusted courier” for organised crime rings.

A truck driver who tried to smuggle over $2.3 million across the NSW-Queensland border has been jailed by a Lismore judge and labelled a “trusted courier” for an organised crime ring.

Phillip John Filliponi, 52, was sentenced in Lismore District Court for one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime, greater or equal to $100, 000.

Filliponi was rearraigned on Thursday as the sentence hearing began, pleading guilty to the sole charge with disputed facts.

The court heard Filliponi was found at Chinderah on December 23, 2020 with over $2.3 million in his truck.

Filliponi was driving south on the Pacific Highway when he entered the NSW heavy vehicle checking station at Tweed.

When asked by the transport inspector for his work diary, Filliponi told them he only had three pages, arousing suspicion.

Inspectors began examining the truck and opened a toolbox, which contained two heavy duffel bags with zippers held together with cable ties.

When opened, inspectors found $2,375,030 to which Filliponi told them “he wouldn’t have stopped or driven the truck if he knew it was there”.

When police were called to the scene, he again denied knowing about the bags.

Police also seized an iPhone and Samsung phone - the latter of which contained messages from a secure messaging app which was seen in court through played body-worn video.

Messages in a six person group discussing the trip from Archerfield to Sydney, containing a person referred to as “The Doctor”, was a main dispute before the court.

Namely, Filliponi’s barrister argued that the phone didn’t belong to Filliponi and the he wasn’t The Doctor in question.

He submitted the Crown’s case relied on circumstantial evidence and reasoning which could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Filliponi’s barrister maintained he was handed the phone by an undisclosed male in relation to carrying the cash.

He said it could be argued as the phone was found still in the box and not attached to the dashboard within reach like Filliponi’s personal iPhone was.

“Your Honour, if this were to be the phone of the accused, one might question why he might be carrying it around in the box it came in,” the barrister said.

“One might question why he might be carrying it at all,” replied Judge McLennan.

Filliponi’s barrister said police could have tested the phone for GPS data, and DNA tested the phone and box.

Judge McLennan detailed the messages from the chat and timeline marks which matched the truck’s navigation system, and supplementary work diary.

He said Filliponi had the password to the phone which meant he would be able to access the conversation and that he was completely satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Filliponi was The Doctor.

“It was clear he had foreknowledge of what it was he was going to be collecting from Brisbane and transferring to Sydney,” he said.

Judge McLennan said this did not mean Filliponi’s contention that he “made a stupid decision to help someone out” was eroded.

“Most decisions to engage in criminal activity can answer to the description of stupid,” he said.

Judge McLennan said Filliponi was nothing more a “trusted courier” for a criminal organisation that seemingly had branches in Victoria, Sydney and Melbourne.

He noted there was nothing to prove Filliponi’s involvement was anything more than isolated.

“To say that organised crime was behind this enterprise is not to say that Mr Filliponi is revealed to be, by his conduct, a member of organised crime, as opposed to someone who was recruited by organised crime,” he said.

The court heard Filliponi for a period of his life had been involved in the use and supply of amphetamines before rehabilitating himself for a “relatively long time.”

Filliponi’s barrister said he had the support of his four children and wife who sat in the back of the courtroom to support him, which was something Judge McLennan agreed with.

“Upon release, he will still have the love and affection of his family,” he said.

“He’s still relatively young … he has a working life ahead of him … and with the support of his family and the obvious skill set he has it’s not unreasonable to say he has … prospects of rehabilitation.”

He convicted Filliponi and sentenced him to two years and two months jail, backdated to March 31, 2022.