Bishop’s son Michael Hough pleads guilty to importing and trafficking MDMA and cocaine
The party boy son of a Ballarat bishop sourced MDMA, cocaine and Simpson’s, Pac-Man and Dr Suess stamped LSD from the dark web which he peddled from his Bentleigh East bedroom.
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The son of a Ballarat bishop sold cocaine, MDMA and LSD sourced from the dark web to fund his flashy, party boy lifestyle.
Michael Hough, 30, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to various drug importing and trafficking charges.
Hough used cryptocurrency to purchase drugs from dark web marketplace Empire which he collected from the post office and sold to his army of customers.
The prolific dealer used encrypted browsers and messing apps to conduct his clandestine operation between March and October 2019.
Joint Task Force Icarus investigators were on Hough after authorities intercepted pure MDMA hidden in a Metal Mekanic helicopter set on June 18 last year.
Police tracked Hough while multiple consignments of ketamine, MDMA and cocaine hidden in documents and a Tension “game box” arrived at Melbourne airport.
Investigators swooped on Hough at his Bentleigh East home on October 31.
Police seized his mobile phone which revealed he’d been pushing drugs as early as March.
Messages revealed how Hough conducted his business:
“Hey boys and girls sorry for the lack of personal reply I have to copy and paste
to a lot of people. My stash van was stolen the other day and I’ve been unable
to chase it down. I’ve restocked MDMA but my ketamine and LSD suppliers are
not available until at least next week I’ve managed to restock MDMA.”
Customers also replied:
“Bro I desperately need some acid for the weekend. Can you please look out
and let me know if you can find any. Thanks.”
“Hey mate, got any lsd?”
Hough replied, “Just ketamine at the moment mate”.
“It’s the same lsd the dr Seuss. Just different artwork I think it was
Simpsons last time you grabbed one? Its Pacman now”.
Hough also trafficked cocaine to a customer known as ‘Sugar Barbie’.
The court heard Hough wanted to be the “go to man” for drugs.
A psychologist told the court Hough had a “preoccupation” with “weekend drugs”, designer clothing and “flashy” Airbnb apartments.
It was submitted Hough sold drugs to fund his image and party boy lifestyle.
Hough, a Melbourne drug party scene regular, used cocaine “every 40 minutes”, the court was told.
Hough’s father, also named Michael, was the Ballarat Anglican bishop until he resigned a decade ago.
Bishop Hough tendered a reference on behalf of his son.
The court heard Hough attended Ballarat Grammar before working at the Ballarat cemetery.
He had done some landscaping work prior to his arrest.
Judge Scott Johns said Hough “enjoyed the status of being the supplier”.
Hough — who appeared via videolink from Marngoneet Correctional — was remanded for sentencing on September 25.
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