Vic Cuoco: lawyer hit with new drug supply charges
A well-known Wollongong lawyer, whose wife was a former My Kitchen Rules contestant, has been hit with additional drug supply charges following an investigation into cocaine supply throughout the Illawarra.
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A prominent Illawarra lawyer allegedly charged with dealing cocaine to his mates across the Illawarra has been slapped with more drug supply charges.
Founder and principal Lawyer at CVC Law, Vittorio ‘Vic’ Cuoco was first charged in March after police stormed his law firm and Balgownie mansion following a lengthy police investigation.
The father-of-two, whose wife Cyn was a former contestant on My Kitchen Rules, was subsequently charged with 14 offences related to the supply and possession of cocaine, after police monitored and investigated him for several months through Strike Force Jacquie, a court has heard.
He was hit with two additional drug supply charges on Wednesday when his case was briefly mentioned at Wollongong Local Court, with police alleging the new charges stemmed from two separate drug deals at Towradgi and Balgownie on December 6 last year.
Paul ‘PJ’ Jewell, owner of the Muffler Centre in Fairy Meadow, was also charged with 15 drug supply offences following the strike force investigations.
Documents previously tendered to the court painted a party boy image of the two men, who police allege supplied their mates with cocaine following a chartered party cruise on Sydney Harbour earlier this year- which was organised by Cuoco’s business associates.
In court documents, police allege on February 6, after the cruise, Jewell and Cuoco went back to the Meriton Hotel on Pitt St with two associates, when one of them asked “where’s the coke?”.
Police allege surveillance planted in the room captured Cuoco, a father of two teenagers, supplying the group with cocaine, before Jewell asked one of the women present if they could snort cocaine off her breasts.
In the documents, police allege Cuoco had concealed his cocaine in a fake key while on the cruise and that he gave the remainder to Jewell the following day.
Just over a month prior, Jewell was arrested at Wilton Airport, and allegedly found with four bags of coke.
In an interview with police it’s alleged Jewell admitted he had bought the drugs for $250 a bag, and intended to supply it at an upcoming wedding, according to court documents.
Police further alleged that despite being charged in December, he continued to supply cocaine on at least one more occasion.
Both men were granted strict bail on April 1. Cuoco is now facing a total of 16 drug supply and firearm charges while Jewell is facing 15 charges.
Both men will return to court next month.