Steven Grundeman: Former Finks president faces sentencing
The former national president of the Finks bikie gang told a court he had cut ties with the outlaw group and was putting his old life behind him after he was caught selling the drug ice.
Blacktown
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Former national president of the Finks bikie gang, Steven John Grundeman, will be allowed to serve a sentence for supplying ice in the community after he told a court he had cut ties with out outlaw group.
The Mt Druitt 59-year-old was charged with one count of supplying an indictable quantity of
a prohibited drug after he was arrested in western Sydney last year.
He pleaded guilty to the offence along with a back-up charge of possessing a prohibited drug.
Grundeman was pulled over by Strike Force Raptor detectives at a vehicle stop in St Marys on May 11, 2019, where he was allegedly found with 224g of methylamphetamine.
Police allege he was involved in the supply of the drug through the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang.
During a sentencing hearing at Penrith District Court in July, Grundeman told the court he had distanced himself from the gang and “all the negative people”.
“I’m trying to better myself,” he said.
“I want to change my ways and just get away from everybody.’’
In giving evidence to the court, the pensioner also spoke of his mental and physical health condition which included a near-death experience in the weeks leading up to his arrest in 2019.
“Two weeks prior I had been assaulted and was on life support … when I got out (of hospital) I wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” he said.
In July, Grundeman’s defence told the court that his client’s involvement in drug supply had been driven by financial gain because he was unemployed and wanted to assist his family.
“He doesn’t have a colourful record. If he can focus on the issues at hand, I could confidently say he won’t have a problem with supplying prohibited drugs,’’ the defence said.
But the Crown prosecutor argued Grundeman had a history of involvement with drugs and had narrowly avoided jail for a similar matter in 2015.
“He has failed to accept what he is doing is wrong and has continued to offend,” the Crown said.
“No penalty other than full-time imprisonment is appropriate.”
At Parramatta District Court on Friday, Grundeman was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order.
Under his conditions, he will be supervised by Mt Druitt Community Corrections District Office, is forbidden from associating with any member, associate, prospect or nominee of the Finks motorcycle gang, must abstain from drugs and alcohol, attend psychology appointments and undertake regular GP appointments.
Breaching the conditions could lead to Grundeman serving a sentence in full time custody.