Vittorio ‘Vic’ Cuoco, Paul Jewell granted bail after drug supply charges
A prominent Illawarra lawyer and his mechanic mate have been granted bail after they were charged with the alleged supply of cocaine.
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A prominent Illawarra lawyer and his mechanic mate have been granted strict bail, after they were caught allegedly dealing cocaine across the Illawarra.
Founder and principal lawyer at CVC Law, Vittorio ‘Vic’ Cuoco was arrested at his law firm on Tuesday, after a lengthy police investigation.
Mr Cuoco is well-known in the Illawarra region after his wife Cyn flaunted their lavish lifestyle and multimillion-dollar Balgownie home on national television as a contestant on My Kitchen Rules in 2017.
After storming the 51-year-old’s office and allegedly finding a bag of cocaine stuffed in a piece of memorabilia that resembled a football boot, police swooped on his mansion, where they allegedly found a firearm and a poker machine.
The father-of-two was subsequently charged with 14 offences related to firearms and the supply and possession of cocaine, after police monitored and investigated him for several months through Strike Force Jacquie.
Paul ‘PJ’ Jewell, owner of the Muffler Centre in Fairy Meadow, was also charged with 15 drug supply offences on Tuesday, with police alleging he supplied a total of 14 grams of cocaine to his mates around the Illawarra on several occasions between December 2019 and February.
Documents tendered to the court painted a party boy image of the two men, who allegedly 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 Street with two associates, when one of them asked “where’s the coke?”.
It’s alleged 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 days before Christmas, on December 20, police allege in the documents that Jewell hosted a party for his staff at Wollongong’s Cabbage Tree Hotel, which Cuoco was invited to.
While Jewell was at the pub, police walked through with drug detection dogs, causing him to “sweat beads”.
Text messages allegedly showed he advised Cuoco to “play it safe” on his arrival to the venue.
“I was at the bar, and two dogs, six cops, I nearly threw my wallet over the bar …” Jewell allegedly told Cuoco.
“Whatever I got, I’m leaving it in the car,” Cuoco responded.
“Yeah play it very safe,” Jewell concluded.
Just a few days later on New Year’s Eve, 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.
Police allege in court documents that despite being charged in December, he continued to supply cocaine on at least one more occasion.
It’s alleged in court documents that most of Jewell’s dealings took place over text message, and that he used code words for cocaine, like “beer”, “coffee”, “brackets” when organising the sale of the drug.
On one occasion in December, it’s alleged he supplied five bags of cocaine to a mate, later telling Cuoco the customer had “grabbed five beers yesterday”.
In applying for bail on Wednesday, both the men’s lawyers argued for their release, telling Magistrate Susan McGowan and Magistrate Michael Stoddart their clients were the breadwinners for their families, and had strong ties to the community.
Both of the men’s defence lawyers also argued that jail time would not be inevitable if the men were to be convicted.
Magistrate McGowan granted Jewell’s bail, imposing a series of strict conditions, including that he surrender his passport, not enter any international airport and report to police three times a week. His dad was also ordered to put up a $2000 bail surety.
Magistrate Stoddart granted Cuoco’s bail, ordering he too surrender his passport, banning him from entering any international airport. Magistrate Stoddart also imposed a strict curfew and order Cuoco’s brother provide a $5000 bail surety.
Cuoco will return to court in two weeks while Jewell’s matter was adjourned for eight weeks.