Bronwyn Brown: Woman in alleged Hamzy ice ring sentenced to prison

The Wagga Wagga grandmother who collected the drug ice allegedly on behalf of notorious Goulburn Supermax inmate Bassam Hamzy has been sentenced.

A Wagga Wagga grandmother has been sentenced for her role in an alleged Bassam Hamzy prison drug ring. Picture: Bassam Hamzy mugshot from 2011.

A woman acting as an intermediary in a meth supply, allegedly for notorious Brothers for Life founder and Supermax inmate Bassam Hamzy, has been jailed.

In late 2017 Wagga Wagga grandmother Bronwyn Anne Brown, 50, began collecting amounts of the drug ice “on Hamzy’s behalf” from a supplier referred to in court documents as ‘Witness I’, the Sydney District Court has heard.

Brown previously pleaded guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, related to these collections.

At the time Hamzy was in Goulburn Correctional Centre on other matters and Brown was in a relationship with Hamzy’s cellmate Carl Little, a court has heard.

There is no suggestion Little was involved in any wrongdoing.

Police alleged the drug operation was orchestrated by Hamzy from behind bars with the help of his high profile inner west lawyer Martin Alan Churchill, 63.

The court heard the drug operation was carried out in Sydney and Wollongong in 2017 and 2018.

Churchill has pleaded not guilty to taking part in a commercial drug supply, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, hindering the apprehension of a person who has committed a serious offence, stalk/intimidate with the intention to cause fear of physical harm, and is awaiting trial in the District Court.

Hamzy has been charged with commercial drug supply, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime and hinder apprehension person who committed serious offence, and is yet to enter pleas.

A charge against Hamzy of knowingly direct activities of a criminal group is to be withdrawn by the prosecution.

On October 10, the court heard ‘Witness I’ was given Brown’s number at Hamzy’s request and within the month Brown met ‘Witness I’ in the carpark of Stocklands Shopping Centre in Shellharbour.

‘Witness I’ supplied Brown with “a quantity of methylamphetamine on behalf of Hamzy”, court documents read, for the purpose of supply.

She didn’t exchange any money with ‘Witness I’ as he and Hamzy had allegedly agreed he would be “repaid by other means”.

Brown met ‘Witness I’ again at the Unanderra KFC for another drug supply about a month later, the court heard.

Brown later told ‘Witness I’ she had received instructions to put money into an account for “cars” – referring to the drugs – using “his name” (Hamzy) as a reference and asked ‘Witness I’ if he had spoken with “B” (Hamzy) to confirm “this was okay”.

Brown and ‘Witness I’ agreed she would make payments directly to him and they would meet next week so that Brown could “(grab) a couple more, like trade-ins, yeah”.

On two more occasions, they met at the Unanderra KFC and police allege Hamzy was to “pay him directly for them (the drugs)”.

Brown allegedly also gave ‘Witness I’ $8500 for a previous supply and $6500 “with the expectation he would provide this money to Hamzy for the debt she owed him”.

Initially, Brown agreed to pay Hamzy $5000 for each ounce of ice she received from the supplier, court documents state.

Following a police raid on her premises on June 26, 2019, police asked about her relationship with Little.

Brown said he was a Muslim convert and had put her in touch with ‘Witness I’ because he was part the Muslim community in Wollongong and could help with moving to the area.

She said she met him at the KFC once and she never purchased anything from him.

Judge Antony Townsden said Brown “was at the bottom of the hierarchy” in relation to co-accused Hamzy and Churchill.

The court heard she felt “embarrassed to walk down the street” now and had “made the most stupidest mistake”.

Brown appeared surprised as she was told she could be released from prison on March 2, 2021, when her parole is up.

“Next year?” she said.

She was sentenced to a maximum sentence of three years and four months for supplying prohibited drugs and dealing with property proceeds of crime, which she also pleaded guilty to.

Churchill’s trial is scheduled to be held on August 16, 2021.