Tyson David McCrea: IT consultant in court over drug trafficking charges

A Canberra IT consultant and father of two has been busted for allegedly trafficking cocaine and GHB. Find out what happened in court.

A Canberra father of two and IT consultant has been released on bail after being charged with offences including drug trafficking.

Melba man Tyson David McCrea, 32, has been charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled drug other than cannabis, two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon and being in possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

McCrea has not entered any pleas, however his lawyer told the court his client would likely plead guilty to the charges before him.

According to a statement released by ACT Policing, officers attached to ACT Policing’s Drugs and Organised Crime Team conducted a search at Mr McCrea’s Melba residence on Tuesday morning.

Tyson David McCrea leaves the ACT Law Courts on September 21. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

During the search police allege they found two freezer bags containing a white powder suspected to be cocaine, a “large number” of vials and containers of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, and drug paraphernalia including digital scales and clip seal bags.

Police also allege they found two knuckle dusters on the property and $25,000 in cash, suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

When Mr McCrea fronted the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning he made an ultimately successful bid for bail – but not before opposition from prosecutors.

Prosecutors argued if released on bail Mr McCrea could reoffend and could put members of the public in danger.

When asked exactly who was at risk of danger prosecutors told the court the defendant could put people seeking illicit drugs at risk of harm.

The court heard McCrea is an IT professional with two children, who financially supports his stay-at-home partner and his ex-partner. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mr McCrea’s lawyer said his client had full time employment at a Canberra based IT Consultant firm, and said he was told by his bosses if he keeps hitting his targets he could be promoted to the role of director.

The lawyer said his client was a father of two children with two different women; he said his current partner was a stay-at-home mum who is looking after their two-year-old child, while his ex-partner and seven-year-old child receive monthly $600 payments from McCrea.

McCrea’s lawyer said while his client had made “full admissions” to police about his activities a sentence of full time imprisonment was not inevitable, and said his client did not have a criminal record and would be unlikely to reoffend given police had seized his drugs.

Meanwhile prosecutors argued bail considerations could not necessarily stop McCrea from offending, stating he could sell drugs from his home, as he is alleged to have done previously.

Prosecutors said police seized a quantity of GHB that was 200 times the trafficable quantity and said police seized 56 grams of cocaine, well above 6g which is the trafficable quantity of the drug.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said there was a “strong prosecution case” but said there was nothing to suggest a pattern of offending or a risk that MrMcrea could skip court.

She said his arrest may be “a significant wake up call” for him.

Ms Walker granted bail without any conditions except appearing at court on the next mention date.

Mr McCrea will return to court on October 12.