Meth, MDMA, fentanyl: Tyson Newman jailed for Chinchilla drug dealing business

A Western Downs tradesman, whose drug trafficking business turned a $21,000 profit in just a handful of months, said he was forced to continue the drug trade to settle his debt and keep his family safe.

A number of family members attended the Toowoomba house in support of Chinchilla man Tyson Newman when he was jailed for dealing drugs in May 2025. Picture: Shutterstock

A Chinchilla tradesman will spend the next six months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and cannabis.

The Toowoomba Supreme Court heard Tyson Philip Newman was also found in possession of MDMA, cocaine, fentanyl, and bupranolol.

The 32-year-old father fronted the higher court on Monday, May 12, and pleaded guilty to a raft of drug related crimes which included trafficking and possessing dangerous drugs, possessing a sawn off shotgun and 81 rounds of ammunition, possessing items used in the commission of drug crimes and drug use, and possessing money obtained through drug trafficking.

A number of family members attended the Toowoomba house in support of Chinchilla man Tyson Newman when he was jailed for dealing drugs in May 2025.

The court heard the charges related to a five month period from May to October in 2022, where Newman turned a profit of $21,000 through street-level drug deals, where he had 20 regular customers, some of whom he would sell to on an almost daily basis.

Newman also offered to sell wholesale quantities, the court heard.

At the time of the offending, Newman had a limited and unrelated criminal history.

The crime squad raided Newman’s Chinchilla home twice, first in June and again in October, each time finding large quantities of methamphetamine and cannabis.

He was released on bail, however found himself in custody in December 2023 on further drug offences.

The court for those drug offences, Newman was sentenced to a 12-month probation order before the Chinchilla Magistrates Court on July 11, 2024, after he spent 220 days in custody.

Newman has been serving that community-based order in Chinchilla, where the court heard he was helping his family with their cattle farm and working two jobs as a fly-in-fly-out worker and a forklift and truck driver.

Barrister Frank Martin said Newman began dealing drugs when his trade business “went downhill” during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that although Newman profited from the drug trade, his goal was to fund his methamphetamine addiction.

Mr Martin, who was instructed by Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers managing partner Claire Graham, said at the time of the offending Newman was consuming an eight-ball of meth with his ex-girlfriend on a daily basis.
According to the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Drug Commodities Guide an eight-ball crystal meth, 3.5g, could had a street value between $750 and $2500, however powdered versions of the drug could cost between $600 and $1,100 depending on its quality.

Mr Martin said Newman continued dealing drugs after he was first raided because he had to pay a drug debt after threats were made to his family.

The court heard Newman, who had considerable family support, made an effort to remain clean and seek support for his addiction after he was released from custody in July 2024, despite losing his home and partner while on remand.

Justice Catherine Muir said Newman’s serious crimes were detrimental to the community and required him to serve further time in custody.

She noted the steps he took to rehabilitate himself were important factors in her sentence, along with his early guilty plea, significant family support, and glowing reference letters.

Newman was sentenced to a four-year and six-month jail term, which is to be suspended after he serves six months.

The maximum penalty for his crimes is a 25-year jail term.

Originally published as Meth, MDMA, fentanyl: Tyson Newman jailed for Chinchilla drug dealing business