Wajih-Anthony Francis of Penrith pleads guilty to cocaine supply
A young father from Sydney’s west, has admitted to operating a dial-a-dealer cocaine ring, where he supplied over 30g of cocaine in a month and employed three people as delivery drivers.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A young father has admitted to his involvement in running a dial-a-dealer coke ring, almost 18 months after he was first charged.
Wajih-Anthony-Francis appeared to Penrith District Court on Friday or a brief mention of his matters, after previously pleading guilty to
Agreed facts tendered to the court state Francis was the main operator in a ‘dial-a-dealer’ syndicate which supplied cocaine across Sydney’s west over June and July in 2021.
To help carry out the illicit sales Francis enlisted his friend Nathan Flood, along with his partner’s younger cousin Kayla Camelo, who then occasionally roped in her partner Deakin Hargreaves to make deliveries.
Orders were placed via a central phone, with Francis then co-ordinating his staffers to drop off the drugs at various times and locations.
Using the central phone Francis would also send out mass texts informing the customer base of specials and when they had new batches of drug, signing off under the alias of “Dave”.
According to agreed facts, on June 5th, 16th, and 26th the central phone sent the following texts messages to multiple phone numbers.
“Hey guys, hope youse are having a great weekend, new batch in stock, you don’t wanna miss it,”
‘I will put a smile on your dial with the stock i have’
“I’m on the road if you need ny snow, cheers Dave,”
“Origin pre-sale, wheels till late, we won’t be working tomorrow so plan ahead, Saturday special starts now between 12-8pm, 3 for 700!!!
“New batch it’s crazy, Dave’s online till 11pm”
Francis himself would also make deliveries, supplying 32.4g of cocaine across 55 separate occasions from June 16 to July 15, court documents state.
On July 15, Francis was arrested in a 7/11 car park in South Penrith, a search warrant of his property on the same day uncovered 42 resealable small plastic bags each containing 0.45g in cocaine, along with 6 mobile phones stashed in a child’s bedroom and 3.15g of cannabis.
In a recorded interview Francis later told police he was addicted to both pot and poker machines, as well as a regular user of cocaine.
“I do it for the purpose of me benefitting so i don't have to pay for drugs i'm an addict that's literally what I do,”
After a lengthy period of time spent before the court and numerous adjournments Francis entered pleas of guilty on July 7.
His co-accused Camelo, Hargreaves and Flood have all previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
Nathan Flood pleaded guilty to participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and was sentenced to a 18 month community corrections order.
Kayla Camelo pleaded guilty to participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and two counts of supply prohibited drugs and was sentenced to a 18 month community corrections order.
Deakin Hargreaves pleaded guilty to two counts of drug supply and possession of a weapon without a permit and was sentenced to two 12-month community corrections orders.
‘One of a kind’: Tributes flow for water ski champ after training tragedy
A champion water skier has been remembered as a passionate person, who “lit up a room”, as tributes flow following his tragic death during a training session on a major NSW river.
Rugby history! Australia’s rare result on New Zealand soil ‘special’
Rugby’s U18s rising stars have done something few other Aussie teams have managed in recent times - completing a shock and awe mission across the ditch for two wins. Stars, result wrap