Robert Frank Donaci used a Nerang shed to make four sub-machine guns

A Gold Coast scaffolder guilty of making submachine guns and dangerous drugs in a suburban shed has been sentenced in court. READ THE DETAILS

A scaffolder who turned an industrial shed into a manufacturing hub for submachine guns faced “uncharted sentencing territory” when in court.

Robert Frank Donaci had the idea to manufacture four submachine guns in a Nerang shed he owned in October and November 2016, the Southport District Court heard during sentencing on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced Donaci to six years, nine months jail.

He will be eligible for parole on October 22.

Donaci stood emotionless in the dock as his sentence was handed down.

Judge Holliday told the court the nature of Donaci’s crimes meant it was in “wholly uncharted sentencing territory”.

Police found four guns, a manual, a pill press and 4kg of the drug alprazolam – used in Xanax – during a raid of his property.

Donaci had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including manufacturing weapons, producing dangerous drugs, possession of weapons and three counts of importing weapons without approval.

A large-scale weapons production facility, four automatic sub-machine guns and a cache of drugs have been uncovered in raids on two Nerang businesses on the Gold Coast. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

The court heard Donaci had discussed the demand and price of submachine guns and posted photos to dark web auction site AlphaBay, using the pseudonym “straight shooter”.

Police also caught the 41-year-old purchasing a Glock via the dark web and paying for it in bitcoin during a raid of the property.

Judge Holliday said she reduced Donaci’s sentence after taking into account his guilty plea and cooperation with police.

The court heard Donaci, who has ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome, suffered significant injuries after being recently bashed in jail.

He wrote a letter to the court saying he had “made bad choices at a vulnerable time” and “done his best to turn his life around”.

Judge Holliday noted Donaci had criminal history in Queensland and Victoria, pointing out in 2003 he was sentenced to four months jail to be served as an intensive correction order for trafficking and possessing ecstasy. I

n 2016, he was fined $5000 possessing a firearm, she said.

Scaffolder made machine guns in Nerang shed - April 19

A scaffolder posted pictures of homemade military-grade weapons to the dark web after turning an industrial shed into a manufacturing hub.

Robert Frank Donaci had the idea to manufacture four submachine guns in a shed he owned at Nerang in October and November 2016, the Southport District Court was told during a sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Police found four guns, a manual, a pill press and 4kg of the drug alprazolam – the drug used in Xanax – during a raid of the property.

One of the machine guns police seized after raiding the Nerang shed. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Donaci had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including manufacturing weapons, producing dangerous drugs, possession of weapons and three counts of importing weapons without approval.

The court was told Donaci had discussed the demand and price of submachine guns and posted photos to the dark web auction site AlphaBay, using the pseudonym “straight shooter”.

Police also caught the 41-year-old purchasing a Glock via the dark web and paying for it in bitcoin.

Crown prosecutor Lara Soldi said that some of the guns were found in a toolbox with a false bottom.

Police display one of the machine guns in 2016. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Three silencers and metal items consistent with other parts of the gun were also found.

“Those items make it clear that production was not to stop, and what had been produced so far was not the extent of what could be produced,” she said.

She told the court Donaci owned the shed where the guns were made and had the idea to manufacture them with the help of Nicholas Petrovski who owed him money for rent.

Petrovski was sentenced to five years’ prison in April 2019.

Ms Soldi told the court the guns manufactured had a “devastating firing capability” and were a military weapon used for close contact.

“The point is made that these are extremely serious guns,” she said.

Defence barrister Marty Longhurst, instructed by Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said there was no allegation the weapons were made in connection with organised crime.

He said at the time of the offending Donaci was a heavy user of drugs and was addicted to alprazolam.

Judge Deborah Holliday will hand down Donaci’s sentence on Thursday.