Michael Anderson: Cassilis farmer jailed for drug dealing

A stoner father-of-six who doubled as the head of a drug syndicate says he used the profits to run his farm during the drought.

A man from the NSW central west will spend the next two years in jail after he was caught working as the manager of a drug syndicate.

Michael Paul Anderson, 49, was handed a sentence of five years behind bars with a non-parole period of two years and 11 months when he appeared before Judge Nanette Williams in the District Court at Dubbo.

Michael Paul Anderson with wife Stacey outside Dubbo Local Court before he was jailed for drug dealing. Picture: Ryan Young

Last year the farmer from Cassilis, abut 65 kilometres east of Dunedoo, pleaded guilty to three counts of prohibited drug supply and one count of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime after police secretly recorded his phone conversations.

According to court documents, Anderson supplied about 37 kilograms of cannabis and 17 grams of cocaine to Dubbo man Caine Rootes between November 2018 and March 2019.

Cessnock drug mule Jeffrey Mears was recruited by Anderson to deliver the drugs to Rootes who would later supply the drug to Dubbo panel beater Adam Carnevale for sale to various customers in the city.

Police from Strike Force Bato caught the group out by conducting an extensive operation which involved secret phone taps and an undercover officer sourcing drugs from Carnevale.

Multiple phone calls between Anderson and Rootes were listened to by police who overheard the pair discussing the purchase and delivery of drugs to Dubbo.

Anderson’s fingerprints were also found on a plastic drug bag full of drugs which was supplied to the undercover cop.

Cannabis police found at Dunedoo in the back of a vehicle driven by drug mule Jeffrey Mears. Picture: NSW Police

When police raided Anderson’s 110-acre property during his arrest, bags used to store his cannabis were found in the kitchen and shed.

A month before his arrest, Anderson and his wife were pulled up by police while they were driving to Dubbo.

Officers located $12,000 in cash within Anderson’s vehicle and he told them it was to be used to trade-in a trail bike.

According to court documents, police later discovered the father of six spent more than $35,000 at a Coolah hardware store over a nine-month period before his arrest.

Anderson told police the cash came from breeding birds and cattle.

Caine Rootes was a member of the drug syndicate with Michael Anderson. Picture: Facebook

Initially Anderson was refused bail after his arrest, however he applied for bail again in the Supreme Court and got it after serving three months and 16 days behind bars.

In March this year Judge Williams revoked Anderson’s bail and put him back behind bars.

While delivering her final judgement in Anderson’s case, Judge Williams said his history did not assist him.

Multiple charges of possess prohibited drug and other charges of offensive conduct, unlicensed driving, disqualified driving, cultivate prohibited plant and possess ammunition were on Anderson’s record, the court heard.

“The offender was a wholesale supplier of cannabis,” Judge Williams said.

“At the time his family were living through the drought.

“The offender told the court he was offered the opportunity to obtain cannabis in bulk … he told the court he never should have supplied drugs to anyone.”

Judge Williams told that court that in an interview with forensic psychologist Bradley Jones, Anderson revealed he was a regular user of cocaine and cannabis.

Anderson told Dr Jones he started smoking cannabis at age 13 before and after school, but he had stopped using it after he was put in a crisis unit in jail to detox because of withdrawal symptoms.

He said he used money from drug dealing to run the family farm during the drought and pay for medical care for his children.

Michael Anderson was sentenced at the Dubbo District Court. Picture: Jedd Manning

Judge Williams said Anderson had been diagnosed with bipolar, cannabis use disorder, alcohol use disorder and adjustment disorder.

“I do not accept that there is a causal link between his offending and the mental health issues,” she said.

Judge Williams said Anderson performed “manager, organiser and recruiter” roles in the drug syndicate.

“The offender told the court that he was sorry and remorseful for his actions and that he was ashamed,” she said.

Anderson is the second last member of the syndicate to be dealt with.

Adam Carnevale has spent more than two years behind bars over his role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook

Carnevale’s wife Tracey Gould is due to be sentenced later this year after she pleaded guilty to recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime.

Carnevale received convictions for supplying 56.5kg of cannabis and dealing with proceeds of crime. He was handed a head sentence of three years and nine months and will be eligible for parole next month.

Rootes was convicted for the supply of 75.9kg of cannabis and 14.2 grams of cocaine. He was handed a four year, three month jail sentence and will be eligible for parole in October.

Mears received convictions for supplying 32.5kg of cannabis and 3.4g of cocaine to Rootes. He was sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars and was released on parole in December 2020.

Anderson will be eligible for release in October 2023.