Aaron Pinto charged with cocaine supply

A Sydney PR account executive was caught flogging cocaine in several Sydney suburbs after police familiar with the “dial-a-dealer methodology” caught him in the act.

Aaron Pinto, 24, leaves Downing Centre Local Court after being sentenced for supplying cocaine.

A western Sydney PR account executive made thousands in a single night flogging cocaine across the eastern suburbs, a court has heard.

Aaron Pinto, 24, pleaded guilty to prohibited drug supply and dealing with property crime proceeds after police found him with 6.7g of cocaine and $2150 cash in Surry Hills on October 15.

Agreed police facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court reveal officers from Surry Hills Proactive Crime Team watched a male jump into Pinto’s Subaru Impreza on Phelps St, before quickly exiting.

Officers then pulled Pinto over and he admitted there was a “considerable amount of cash in the car as well as drugs in the centre console”.

“Police conducted a search of the accused and his vehicle and located two small resealable bags of cocaine in the centre console weighing 1.5g,” the facts state.

Pinto faced Downing Centre Local Court, where he pleaded guilty. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Also located was a red satchel bag which contained $2150 cash and the accused admitted he had sold one bag of cocaine for $300 to the male on Phelps St.”

Pinto then provided two phones to police, describing one as personal and the other for drug supply.

“The accused admitted to selling eight bags of cocaine over four drug transactions,” the facts state.

“The cash located in the vehicle was solely from the drug transactions (and) the accused told police he intended to sell the two bags of cocaine in Cronulla but the sale fell through.”

The transactions were made in Surry Hills, Kensington, and at Pontoon Bar.

At court on November 23, Pinto’s lawyer said the Prospect man had foolishly accepted the invitation to supply cocaine via Snapchat.

“He has otherwise been a productive member of the community, he studied public relations at UTS, and he is working full time in public relations at the moment,” the lawyer told the court.

The court heard Pinto had been striving to prove himself and found himself at an “unfortunate pay grade” before the offences were committed.

Magistrate Garry Still convicted Pinto and sentenced him to a 12-month conditional release order to be of good behaviour.

“I accept this is a one off, I accept his remorse and contrition,” Mr Still said.

“His actions were out of the ordinary.”