John Faaoloii: Rap promoter turn dial-a-dealer sentenced to jail

A rap promoter who became a dial-a-dealer peddling cocaine on the streets of Sydney used “coffee” and “beer” as codewords with his customers.

A rap promoter who became a cocaine dial-a-dealer who used coded messages to chat with his clients, will be eligible for parole in two weeks time.

John Robert Faaoloii, 44, of Miller, was in the passenger seat of a car with a female driver when police found them with cocaine at Petersham one night in late 2020.

After officers noticed an unknown man approaching the car then walking away, Faaoloii said he was a friend who had brought money he owed him. A search of the car found a haul of cocaine.

The court also heard how Faaoloii developed such a cocaine habit he developed withdrawal symptoms when taken into custody. He would also use “coffee” and “beer” as codewords on group messages to clients.

“We’ve got beer available tonight”, he would message across group chats.

John Robert Faaoloii pleaded guilty to a number of drug supply charges.

Faaoloii was sentenced on Friday at Downing Centre District Court to two counts of ongoing drug supply and supplying drugs of an indictable quantity.

He pleaded guilty shortly before a trial set for August and was sentenced by Judge Robyn Tupman to an aggregate sentence of three years in custody, backdated to December 2020, and with a non parole period of one year and 10 months.

John Robert Faaoloii pleaded guilty to a number of drug supply charges.

This means that Faaoloii will be available for parole in two weeks time.

The court heard how Faaoloii between October and December 2020 supplied drugs 24 times across two separate periods of 30 days, which totalled 33g of cocaine across the transactions.

They used a run phone to liaise with clients, which was described by the judge as “well-planned, but not particularly sophisticated”.

Judge Tupman noted how Faaoloii looked after a number of dependants, and turned to a life of dealing to supplement his income.

“They suffered financially and while it can’t be excused, I accept this was the reason (for dealing),” she said.

“But there was a dual reason, to get access to the drug himself.

“His cocaine habit was so bad, when he was arrested he suffered withdrawal symptoms.”

Judge Tupman noted the need for general deterrence and that Faaoloii had been in custody since his arrest, a total of one year and 10 months.

“He should be released to the community as soon as possible to care for his elderly mother,” she added.

John Faaoloii: Rap promoter turn dial-a-dealer to be sentenced

September 15, 2022

A rap promoter who turned to a life of dial-a-dealing and street cocaine supply across the inner west will soon learn his fate.

John Robert Faaoloii, 44, of Miller, was in the passenger seat of a car with the co-offender at the wheel when police found them at Petersham one night in late 2020.

Faaoloii was charged with three counts of ongoing drug supply, dealing with the property proceeds of crime, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, and supplying drugs of more than a small quantity.

He appeared in person from custody on Thursday at Downing Centre District Court where it was heard he pleaded guilty after his co-offender was recently sentenced. Faaoloii will be sentenced on Friday at the same court.

Judge Robyn Tupman shed some light on Faaoloii’s offending and said he was not the “Mr Big” of the operation and was on a similar level to his co-offender.

“There’s no evidence to suggest he was the ‘Mr Big’, evidence suggests he was a street dealer,” she said.

Judge Tupman also revealed Faaoloii had outstanding matters before the Victorian courts “to do with accessing drugs”.

“I can’t infer, but that would suggest there’s a connection there, and may suggest where the drugs were coming from,” she said.

Faaoloii set up the company JRTF Management in mid-2020 and was understood to have been promoting the work of Sydney YouTube sensation and hip hop artist Youngn Lipz at the time of his arrest in late 2020.

There is no suggestion Youngn Lipz was connected in any way to Faaoloii’s offences.

Faaoloii and the co-offender were arrested by the Redfern Regional Enforcement Squad’s annual drug-runner swoop codenamed Strike Force Northrop.