Jailbird mastermind of cross-border gun-running ring wants new sentence

A Queensland man serving eight years’ jail for masterminding a cross border gun-running ring wants his sentence reopened.

It is alleged that dozens of guns are still circulating in the black market. File picture

A Queensland man serving eight years jail for masterminding a cross border gun-running ring that authorities allege left more than 80 weapons still circulating in the underground black market, has applied to the court to reopen his sentence.

Wayne Yanko was dressed in prison greens via video-link to the District Court in Brisbane on Monday where his barrister Scott Lynch applied to reopen Yanko’s sentencing hearing three-and-a-half years after it was handed down.

A jury found Yanko, from Tamborine in the Scenic Rim south of Brisbane, guilty of four counts of cross-border disposal or acquisition of guns between December 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017.

At the trial then-crown prosecutor Lincoln Crowley told the jury that Yanko was the “prime mover” of a deal to buy 131 handguns from Brisbane and Sydney gun shops and sell them on the criminal black market.

On June 10, 2021 Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced Yanko to eight years and six months behind bars with three days of pre-sentence custody.

Parole was not declared and $39,674.90 deemed proceeds of crime was forfeited to the Crown.

In court on Monday, Judge Jodie Wooldridge KC adjourned the application until Friday November 29.

“Both as concerns the reopening application itself and if it were accepted the matter proceeded upon a factual error.. and notwithstanding the passage of time the matter should be reopened, then the exercise of a sentencing discretion at that point, it seems to me require at least the provision of the transcript of proceedings before her honour Judge McGinness,” Judge Wooldridge said.

She said that exhibits and other material before Judge McGinness should also be provided for this application.

The case is set to return to court on Friday.

Originally published as Jailbird mastermind of cross-border gun-running ring wants new sentence