Dapto: Scott Crowther admits role in drug ring allegedly headed by redhead twins
A man has admitted to playing an active role in the day-to-day running of a sophisticated Illawarra party drug syndicate allegedly headed up by a set of red-headed twin brothers.
Illawarra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illawarra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Dapto man has admitted he played an active role in the day-to-day dealings of a sophisticated party drug syndicate allegedly headed by two burly, 20-year-old red-headed-twin brothers.
Scott Crowther on Tuesday pleaded guilty to participating in criminal group, possessing an unauthorised pistol, two counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without permit and wear or possess police uniform, after police smashed a major Illawarra drug ring responsible for the alleged sale of cocaine and MDMA across the region last August
Crowther was the ninth person charged in relation to the syndicate in October, after police swooped on several properties in early morning raids on August 16, including the Coniston home of alleged syndicate bosses Flinn and Joel Westman.
The twins and one of their girlfriend’s Nikita Campbell were arrested at the property, as well as the twin’s older brother Daniel, their friends Hunter Harrison and Shaun Lane and Lane’s brother-in-law, Graeme Ashfield. Nikita Campbell’s brother Colby was arrested and charged the following day.
Crowther’s Dapto home was also raided on August 16, however he was overseas at the time. The 35-year-old was eventually arrested in October, when he landed back in Australia after a trip to the USA.
During the raids, police found several items at Crowther’s home, including an air pistol and magazine, expandable baton, two knuckle dusters, a police sergeant detective name badge and a police patch.
In documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, police described the syndicate as “well-planned, sophisticated and meticulously organised”, and alleged the Westman twins were the principals, responsible for the sale of tens of hundreds of dollars worth of drugs.
On Tuesday, Crowther admitted he played an active role in the dealings of the group and would assist in collecting drug debts owed to the Westman boys.
Through phone taps, police caught Crowther acting as a stand-over man for the twins on July 14, assisting them in taking a Dapto man’s BMW to repay a debt.
According to court documents, the Westmans were allegedly captured by police as they discussed with Crowther how much the man owed, with Crowther informing them it was about $18,000. Crowther, who was overseas at the time, gave the twins the man’s address and advised them to call him when they arrived at his home.
Once they arrived, police claim Flinn could be heard saying “give me the car I’m going to slice you”, before Crowther directed him to punch the man.
A further call between the trio allegedly revealed the Westmans had taken the man’s white BMW to repay the best, which was allegedly used for the group’s day to day operations from that point forward.
While it’s not known how Crowther became involved in the alleged syndicate, police say in court documents he was a known user of both MDMA and cocaine.
Crowther, who is the only member of the alleged syndicate to enter pleas to the charges, will be sentenced in June.
Joel and Flinn are each facing 26 drug supply charges, Daniel Westman is facing one charge of participate criminal group; three charges of drug supply and dealing with proceeds of crime, while Nikita Campbell is facing seven charges relating to drug supply and knowingly participate in a criminal group. Shaun Lane is facing 20 charges relating to the supply of drugs, participating in a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime while Graeme Ashfield is facing five charges relating to the supply of prohibited drugs, dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.