Cynthia Ballo: Greenfield Park local caught in eastern suburbs dial-a-dealer cocaine bust

An aspiring primary school teacher was slammed by a magistrate after she was busted dealing cocaine in Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs.

An aspiring teacher caught dealing cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been slammed by a magistrate who said describing the situation “as a fall from grace is an understatement”.

Cynthia Ballo, 20, pleaded guilty to supplying drugs on an ongoing basis after she was sprung with cocaine in her bra during a dial-a-dealer adventure gone wrong in Potts Point and Woolloomooloo on May 9, 2021.

A court heard Ballo, as well as her friend and co-accused Issa Hatamleh, roused the suspicion of police when they were spotted driving down Orwell St, Potts Point, with an unknown individual entering, then soon exiting, the car.

Agreed police facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court on Friday reveal when police stopped the car they asked Hatamleh (the driver) for his licence — only to soon discover it was cancelled.

“Hatamleh and Ballo were directed to exit the vehicle and informed both themselves and the vehicle would be searched for prohibited drugs,” agreed police facts state.

Cynthia Ballo leaving Sydney’s Downing Centre. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

At this point, Ballo told the police she had eleven bags of cocaine tucked inside her bra, a court heard.

Police also discovered over $1500 in cash tucked inside a book in the car’s glovebox.

Cynthia Ballo was busted dealing cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

During an interview with police, both Hatamleh and Ballo said they earned money from dealing cocaine and revealed they had already made five sales that evening.

“Ballo further stated the bags of cocaine in her bra were to be sold during the night,” police facts state.

In court, Ballo’s defence lawyer said his client had no prior criminal record and expressed genuine contrition.

He described Ballo as “basically dobbing herself in” when she told police about the cocaine in her bra and said she is currently a university student studying to become a primary school teacher, a court heard.

Cynthia Ballo and her mother hide their faces outside court. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

But Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis rejected Ballo’s previous claim of unaware participation in the dial-a-dealer operation, noting she passed the bags of cocaine to Hatamleh and placed the cash in the car’s glovebox.

“It was clear that she facilitated these offences … to describe it as a fall from grace is an understatement,” Mr Tsavdaridis said.

“It should be made abundantly clear the community is sick and tired of dial-a-dealer drug operations”.

For her crime, Mr Tsavdaridis said no other alternative than imprisonment was possible. He sentenced Ballo to one year imprisonment, to be served in the community by way of an intensive correction order (ICO).

Hatamleh has also pleaded guilty to supplying drugs and driving with a cancelled licence. He received a 14 month ICO for his crimes and his licence was disqualified for 12 months.