Aaron and Paul Coyne, Matthew Hubbard: Penrith drug dealers jailed
A suburban father and son teamed up with their neighbour to run a commercial drug supply ring in Sydney’s west. They would meet with customers in the local Hungry Jacks and exchange cash for ice hidden inside pencil cases and Aldi bags.
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A western Sydney father and son who teamed up with their neighbour and ran a commercial drug supply ring from their suburban street have been jailed.
Paul Coyne, 62, his son, Aaron, 28, and their neighbour Matthew Hubbard, 58, of Penrith, were last week convicted of commercial drug supply charges in Penrith District Court after they were busted dealing almost 1.7kg of ice to detectives in an undercover sting last year.
The men, who lived in Markham Ave, were arrested in February 2019 after an investigation caught the trio involved in 15 drug deals, worth $122,000, to undercover police.
Paul Coyne and Hubbard faced up to life in jail, while Aaron Coyne facing up to 20 years behind bars after the men admitted to dealing hundreds of grams of methamphetamines between September 2018 and February last year.
Detectives from Strike Force Travi set up an investigation in late 2018 to investigate the supply of drugs in Penrith and Kingswood.
It was at this time that undercover police reached out to Aaron via text message, inquiring about the purchase of small quantities of ice, worth $200.
The court heard Aaron was solely involved in the first four drug deals between September and October 2018, with undercover police gradually increasing the quantities over time.
By late October, Aaron had begun selling larger amounts of the drug, worth $850 a deal, regularly meeting with undercover police in the carpark of Hungry Jacks at Kingswood.
By November, police observed Aaron attending a caravan outside Hubbard’s home where he would obtain the drugs for the deals.
Later that month, the Coynes dealt $8400 worth of ice to police at Hungry Jacks in Kingswood, with Aaron “bragging” about the sale over text messages to a friend with a photo of $50 notes.
By December, Aaron had disappeared from the operation, with Paul and Hubbard supplying $78,000 worth of ice, packaged in Aldi bags and pencil cases, from Markham Ave.
In a police interview, Paul told police he was the “middle man” who would drop off the drugs and “get a little something” for his efforts.
Aaron initially denied any involvement.
In sentencing Judge Sharon Harris noted the trio’s “serious involvement in the business of selling drugs”, with Hubbard on-supplying to the Coynes, who were the face of the supply.
“Each of the offenders suffered from significant drug addictions … sparked by their involvement,” Judge Harris said.
“All users supplied to satisfy their drug use.”
The court heard Aaron had been on bail at the time of his arrest for serious weapons offences and shoplifting.
His father had a criminal history dating back to the 1980s, which included drug offences.
While Hubbard also had a record stretching back 35 years and had previously been convicted of drug manufacturing and supply.
Citing a sentencing assessment report, Judge Harris referenced the men’s remorse, with Paul describing his actions as “unforgivable”.
Paul Coyne and Hubbard were sentenced to six years’ jail, with four years non parole. Aaron Coyne will serve at least five years behind bars, with three years and three months on parole.