Edgar Hernando Michaels: Villawood man set to learn fate for ice supply

A 65-year old man will soon learn his fate after admitting to supplying commercial quantities of crystal methamphetamine across Sydney.

A 65-year-old man from Villawood is set to learn his fate after pleading guilty to supplying more than 3kg of ‘ice’ across southwest Sydney.

Edgar Hernando Michaels was originally charged with nine offences after Redfern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) arrested him at the corner of the Hume Hwy and Chester Hill Rd at Bass Hill on the morning of June 2, 2021 when they seized $105,000 cash in his car.

Under Strike Force Caprera, he was taken to Bankstown police station and charged with nine offences including large commercial drug supply and participating in criminal group contribute criminal activity.

In Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to five of the nine offences, while the remaining were withdrawn.

Redfern Region Enforcement Squad investigators have now charged 13 people and seized ‘ice’ valued at over $1.5 million, as well as 18kg of cannabis, 270g of cocaine and more than $220,000 cash. Picture: NSW Police

Those admissions included supplying 1007g of methylamphetamine (ice) in Milperra between 21 December 2020 and February 8 2021; 499g of ice in Rockdale on March 19 2021, another 499.95g on April 4 2021, and a further 1kg of ice on June 2 2021, the day of his arrest.

In total, Michaels supplied more than 3.1kg of ice, with a potential street value of $1.5 million.

He appeared via videolink in Burwood Court from custody, with a shaved head, and round, dark-framed glasses.

Magistrate Andrew Miller told him he would be sentenced in the Sydney District Court on September 23.

Michaels nodded in understanding before telling Mr Miller, “Bye sir, have a nice day”.