LISTED: 20 Queensland cocaine dealers who faced court in 2023
It was a big year for cocaine crimes with sports stars, a lawyer and even a “poster girl” cop facing court, as new data showed use of the drug has escalated. See the dealers who went down in 2023.
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As Australians consume increasing amounts of cocaine, recent reports have found regional areas may be becoming dealers’ biggest new targets.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)’s latest wastewater report in November revealed a national increase in cocaine consumption in 2023.
Australians consumed about six doses per 1000 people, with highest levels of consumption continuing in capital cities.
While consumption in the capitals actually decreased in 2023, increases in regional consumption boosted levels across the country to an overall increase.
ACIC Acting CEO Matt Rippon said the report underlined the pervasive and ongoing threat that organised crime groups pose, eliciting large drug profits at the general public’s expense.
“These data reveal drug market resilience, but also points of vulnerability that present opportunities to inform harm reduction strategies that improve the safety of the Australian community,” he said.
ACIC’s Principal Adviser on Drugs Shane Neilson said last May that their intelligence indicated cocaine trafficking groups were collectively attempting to supply “as much, or perhaps more, cocaine to Australia than has ever been the case”.
He said Australia was a highly profitable market for international cocaine trafficking groups because people would pay high prices for the drug.
But Mr Neilson said the demographic of cocaine users in Australia was also broadening.
We list some of those ot face the Queensland courts in 2023, from a makeup artist to a lawyer, a football star to a brothel owner and even a police “poster girl”.
CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING
Michael Anderson & Brett Gundry – Rockhampton
Michael John Christopher Anderson sourced cannabis and cocaine in Victoria and arranged for co-accused Brett John Gundry to transport them across state lines to Rockhampton.
The Rockhampton Supreme Court heard Gundry transported the drugs using a tow truck registered to Anderson’s towing company, which was loaded with a caravan.
Inside the caravan, police found 76.03kg of cannabis and a clip-seal bag containing 6.497g of pure cocaine in 27.188g of substance.
The approximate street value was $586,635 of cannabis and about $8000 worth of cocaine.
Anderson pleaded guilty last March to drug trafficking, possessing cocaine and cannabis, as well as possessing something used to traffick dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to six years’ jail with parole eligibility after he serves 12 months.
Gundry pleaded guilty two months later to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to five years’ prison, suspended for an operational period of five years after serving 137 days in presentence custody.
Mitchell Barrow – Gold Coast
Mitchell Craig Barrow pleaded guilty last August to trafficking cocaine across the Queensland border.
The Brisbane Supreme Court heard police intercepted Barrow on the Gold Coast Highway in November, 2021.
They found a kilo of substance containing 687 grams of pure cocaine hidden in a paint can in the car.
The court heard this was Barrow’s sixth trip in an eight month time period, for which he was paid a total $14,500.
His offending occurred in the context of heavy drinking and a gambling addiction, which the court heard developed after he overcame an illicit drug addiction.
But he had since sought work as a truck driver and hoped to study film and TV production in future.
Barrow was sentenced to five years prison, suspended immediately, having served 271 days in custody on remand.
Dylan Hudson – Townsville
Townsville football star Dylan James Hudson faced the Supreme Court last July for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine during a six-month period.
During that time, he made more than 130 supply calls involving at least 40 people, the court heard.
He had sold a total 296 grams of methamphetamine and 117.5 grams of cocaine, with transactions worth about $160,000.
The court heard Hudson once had a promising soccer career, and was offered a chance to train in England, but his life spiralled into crime after suffering a sporting injury.
He began using methamphetamine after a relationship breakdown, which eventually led him to trafficking, the court heard.
Hudson pleaded guilty to charges including supplying a schedule one dangerous drug and trafficking dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to five years’ jail wholly suspended for five years.
Haydn Kleidon – Rockhampton
Haydn Kleidon faced Rockhampton Supreme Court last September for selling wholesale amounts of cocaine, MDMA and marijuana.
The court heard Kleidon was “moving about three ounces (85 grams) a week” during the trafficking period of April 23, 2021, to November 20, 2021.
He received $19,860 in cash deposits during that time.
Kleidon pleaded guilty to charges including trafficking drugs, two of possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug, six of possessing a dangerous drug, two of possessing anything used in connection to drugs, and one of possessing more than 500g of marijuana.
His defence barrister Scott Lynch commented that the Central Region Supreme Court’s Justice Graeme Crow dealt with “very significant traffickings in this area”, “bigger than what we’ve seen in Brisbane and the Gold Coast”.
Kleidon was sentenced to seven years jail, with 570 days presentence custody declared as time served.
He will be eligible for parole on February 28, 2024.
Tyson Myles – Toowoomba
Former MMA champion Tyson Julian Myles faced Toowoomba Supreme Court last February for trafficking cocaine and ecstasy over a 10-month period.
Myles used the Snapchat app to avoid detection when dealing with at least four customers, the court heard.
Police searched Myles’ home on multiple occasions in 2020 and found a crawl space under the house containing two safes with 6.224g of pure cocaine, 39g of MDA, 0.047g of MDMA (ecstasy), 30g of cannabis, $9000 cash and a box of 50 .22 calibre bullets.
Myles was later found outside a Toowoomba nightclub with nine clip seal bags containing 1g of cocaine each, 31 MDA tablets, a bag containing 1.824g of pure cocaine, and ecstasy tablets, the court heard.
Myles pleaded guilty to charges including drug trafficking, four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and two of possessing dangerous drugs (more than 2g).
The court heard he had no criminal history and had made significant steps towards rehabilitation.
He was sentenced to four years jail, wholly suspended for four years, along with three years probation and 120 hours of community service.
Caidee Ogston-Hughes – Townsville
Townsville mum Caidee Jade Ogston-Hughes sold methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs using daily advertisements on her Snapchat.
She pleaded guilty last June to seven counts of drug related offences including the supply and trafficking of dangerous drugs.
The Townsville Supreme Court heard Ogston-Hughes amassed more than 110 customers between August 12, 2021 and April 13, 2022.
She had received $34,000 deposited into her bank account during her seven months of operation, involving 274 bank transactions.
But the court heard Ogston-Hughes mainly operated through cash sales, so the total proceeds from her dealing was unknown.
The mother of three had started using drugs from a young age, but understood she now needed to stay drug free, the court heard.
Ogston-Hughes was sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail, suspended for four years, having served 426 days in pre-sentence custody.
She was further ordered to serve two years’ probation.
Gene Richardson – Rockhampton
Former miner Gene Louis Richardson started trafficking cocaine, MDMA and LSD after receiving a deadly medical diagnosis.
The Rockhampton Supreme Court heard Richardson had been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2018, and may now die in jail.
He had trafficked drugs to 83 contacts from April to October 2021 using encrypted apps.
Postal officers had notified police after detecting Richardson’s attempt to mail 500g of cocaine at less than 50 per cent purity in two parcels.
Police arrested Richardson and found messages indicating he had received 1560 LSD tablets, 56g of MDMA, 1000 tablets of MDMA and 696g of cocaine during the trafficking period.
Other messages mentioned supplying magic mushrooms and supplying $178,000 worth of drugs on tick, the court heard.
Richardson pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs, possessing more than 2g of a schedule one drug, and three counts of supplying drugs.
He was sentenced to eight years jail with parole eligibility on November 13, 2024 for his crimes.
Paul Robinson – Cairns
Former real estate agent and business owner Paul Andrew Robinson sold drugs using cryptocurrency accounts, the dark web and encrypted email.
Robinson pleaded guilty last March to 23 charges including two counts of trafficking drugs.
The court heard police had uncovered $1 million in transactions throughout the offending period, but Robinson claimed only $250,000 to $300,000 was drug related.
He said the rest were from his cryptocurrency trading, while the prosecution suggested it was all drug related.
Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said she found Robinson’s evidence implausible.
She sentenced him to nine and a half years imprisonment with no recommendation for parole.
Darryn Webber – Rockhampton
Darryn John Webber faced Rockhampton Supreme Court last December for operating a wholesale cocaine and meth trafficking business with another person.
The court heard the self-employed welder started using methamphetamine and cocaine after the breakdown of his marriage.
Webber had used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with associates during the 11 day offending period in April 2021, the court heard.
The trafficking was uncovered after police searched Webber’s Rockhampton hotel and seized his phone.
Police also found a total of 7.811g of pure meth, 1.3g of pure cocaine and 204g of marijuana during the search, the court heard.
Webber pleaded guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
He was sentenced to serve four-and-a-half years in jail, with parole eligibility on December 29, 2024.
Benjamin Williams – Mackay
Benjamin Micheal Williams faced Rockhampton Supreme Court last April for trafficking wholesale amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine in Mackay.
The court heard he transported or arranged for drugs to be transported to Mackay, mostly from the Gold Coast.
He had also sold meth in ounce quantities to 10 people who ran their own independent trafficking businesses.
Police uncovered $87,762 cash was deposited over 36 transactions throughout Williams’s eight month offending period in 2020.
They searched Williams on multiple occasions, including one where they found him in possession of 12.9g of pure cocaine and $8000.
On another occasion, he was found in possession of 68.6g of pure meth, 8.8g of pure cocaine and 195g of MDMA pills.
Defence barrister Scott Lynch said his client had been using meth at the time but had “worked arduously to improve his position”.
Williams pleaded guilty to a number of offences including trafficking dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years jail, with 873 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served.
Parole eligibility was set for January 24, 2024.
Marcus Wright – Sunshine Coast
Noosa nightclub co-owner Marcus Les Wright trafficked cocaine throughout a 13 month period after the club, The Rolling Rock, started struggling financially.
The Brisbane Supreme Court heard Wright purchased drugs from a Victorian supplier, paying them $99,600 in total – $45,000 of which was to pay off an old debt.
The remaining $54,600 bought him 8.6 ounces of cocaine, which had a resale value of $72,000-$120,000, the court heard.
The court heard Wright’s life had “fallen apart” in 2018 after he found out his father had been having an affair with his wife.
He had started “self-medicating” with alcohol and drugs as a result, but had since remarried and reconciled with his father.
Wright pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing a phone used in a crime, and fraud.
Wright was sentenced to five years jail, to be suspended after he has spent 15 months behind bars.
CONVICTED OF DRUG SUPPLY
Samantha-Jo Beverstock – Brisbane
Mount Gravatt makeup artist Samantha-Jo Beverstock faced court while pregnant with twins last February for selling cocaine and other drugs to her friends.
The Brisbane District Court heard Beverstock used the encrypted app Signal to arrange the sale of cocaine to 12 customers, offering up to 7g for sale.
The court heard there had only been seven actual supplies of drugs, and nine offers to supply drugs, in part to fund her own drug habit.
Judge Byrne warned Beverstock: “If you don’t turn things around, your children are going to have a role model who is sitting in jail. That’s the reality”.
Beverstock pleaded guilty to 16 counts of supplying various drugs, and three charges of possession of drugs including cocaine.
She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail with immediate parole, and 79 days pre-sentence custody taken into account.
Beau Clarke – Rockhampton
Tyre fitter and father-of-four Beau James Clarke faced Rockhampton District Court in December for supplying cocaine and cannabis.
The court heard Clarke had supplied marijuana five times and cocaine four times, with the cocaine weighing quantities of 0.5g, 0.4g, 1.75g and an unknown amount.
Police had also seized a mobile phone, 660g of marijuana, and 0.845g of cocaine from Clarke’s residence on March 11, 2022.
Clarke pleaded guilty to nine counts of supplying drugs, one of possessing over 500g of a schedule two drug, one of possessing anything used in a crime and one of possessing a dangerous drug.
He was sentenced to two years jail, with parole release on May 6, 2024.
Giovanni Genuario – Brisbane
Barber Giovanni Genuario was escorted away from Brisbane District Court by Australian Border Force officers last February after being sentenced for dealing cocaine.
He was initially charged alongside Insta-famous barber Michael Anthony Langanis as part of Operation Sierra Gypsy in December 2020.
Langanis was sentenced to 12 months’ probation with no conviction recorded in 2022 for one count of supplying cocaine to an undercover officer.
The court heard Genuario had supplied cocaine to an undercover police officer five times and was involved in preparing the supply of cocaine on another five occasions.
The court heard his visa had expired in 2021, but hoped to obtain a new one to remain in the country.
He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of supplying cocaine and two counts of possession.
He was sentenced to 18 months jail, wholly suspended, having served six months in presentence custody.
Shaune Irving – Brisbane
High-profile Brisbane lawyer Shaune Irving pleaded guilty last year to three charges of supplying cocaine.
He had supplied the drug on multiple occasions in late 2019, including one occasion at a Fortitude Valley rooftop bar with friends.
The Brisbane District Court heard Irving had handed in his practice certificate and would never be a lawyer again.
Irving pleaded guilty on the same occasion to two charges of making a false declaration.
He received concurrent terms of imprisonment for the drug and false declaration charges, which were suspended for two years.
Darrius Mann – Rockhampton
Darrius Iziah Jamas Mann faced Rockhampton District Court last October for supplying poor purity cocaine at a popular music festival.
The court heard police uncovered Mann’s offending while patrolling the Lost and Found Music Festival in Rockhampton and spotting suspicious behaviour outside the men’s toilets.
They spoke to a man who told them he had paid Mann $350 for 1g of cocaine.
Mann initially denied the allegations, but later admitted to police he had 3.485g of cocaine in his pocket, of which only 0.23g was pure.
Mann pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing tainted property.
He was sentenced to eight months jail, wholly suspended for 12 months.
Sally MacNeill – Gold Coast
Gold Coast nurse Sally Louise MacNeill faced Southport District Court last October for dealing cocaine.
The mum of three had supplied or arranged to sell cocaine three times.
The transactions included 3g for $1050, 7g for an unknown amount, and one offer to supply 0.5g.
The nurse of 15 years had no criminal history and had been introduced to cocaine by an abusive partner.
She had since stopped using illicit substances and had taken positive steps toward rehabilitation, the court heard.
MacNeill pleaded guilty to charges including three counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and was sentenced to 12 months jail, wholly suspended for two years.
Convictions were recorded for only two supply offences.
Manjot Meghla – Gold Coast
Gold Coast brothel owner Manjot Meghla faced Brisbane’s Supreme Court last July after he was caught selling cocaine to sex clients and his mistress.
Meghla had supplied cocaine 19 times between June and August, 2021, in quantities ranging from one to four grams.
When police raided his premises, Meghla was seen throwing a small bag of cocaine off a balcony into a park, the court was told.
Meghla pleaded guilty to 19 counts of supplying cocaine, three counts of possessing drugs, and possessing anything used in the commission of supplying cocaine.
He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail, suspended immediately, and two years of probation.
Rachel Perry – Brisbane
Former police “poster girl” Rachelle Elise Perry faced Brisbane District Court last June for selling cocaine and party drugs.
Perry had aided her partner in the supply of drugs from February to April 2021.
This included supplying cocaine on six occasions – one of which was to the value of $1700.
She also supplied MDMA, also known as ecstasy, on three occasions.
The court heard Perry had been in a downward spiral at the time due to her tumultuous relationship and her experience being “subjected to sexual harassment on a regular basis” in the police force
The former constable pleaded guilty to 12 counts of supplying drugs, two counts of possessing drugs, three counts of permitting use of place and once count each of stealing as a public service employee, possessing anything used in the commission of supplying drugs, computer hacking, and possessing a handgun.
Perry was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years jail and granted immediate parole.
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