Thomastown: Daniel Mercuri allegedly selling ice at Westville Court house
A Thomastown man’s parents allegedly didn’t know he’d been selling methamphetamine out of their house — even though police found a crystal substance spread around the garage. A machete and a flick knife was also allegedly found.
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A Thomastown man has allegedly been selling methamphetamine out of his parents’ house without them knowing — even though police found a crystal substance spread around the garage.
A machete, flick knife, bags of a crystal substance, cannabis, scales and empty deal bags were also allegedly found at the Westville Court home, Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court has heard.
Daniel Mercuri fronted the court on Thursday, July 30, having been charged with drug trafficking.
Police raided the house earlier in the day, allegedly finding a white crystal substance spread across bench tops in the garage and in a bowl and container, nearby scales, deal bags, a machete and flick knife.
In Mercuri’s bedroom they allegedly found more stashes of the crystal substance, cannabis and a driver’s licence, believed to be stolen, kept in a lockbox.
Senior Constable Jason Kokas said spot testing on the crystal substances indicated about five grams of it was methamphetamine.
He said the remaining substance was believed to be cutting agent which Mercuri mixed with the drug prior to selling it.
Mercuri refused to give his phone passcode to police.
He was on bail at the time, with police having stopped him driving in Thomastown on May 23.
They allegedly believed him to be drug affected then found 3g of cannabis in his car.
The court heard Mercuri had also allegedly scammed two people on Facebook marketplace in January and February by pretending to sell them iPhones.
He allegedly took $400 payment from the first victim before sending the victim a multimeter, and took $500 from the second person before ceasing all contact with them.
Lawyer Chris Brydon said Mercuri was contesting the trafficking charges and delays being imposed by COVID-19 could mean he spent more time in custody waiting for the charges to resolve than he would be sentenced to.
He said the former motor mechanic’s girlfriend was also seven months pregnant and Mercuri was willing to provide any future phone number he obtained to police, as well as do fortnightly drug screens.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek agreed delay was a significant factor, particularly because of the small amount of methamphetamine allegedly found.
He bailed Mercuri with the conditions he only use one phone number, which he share with police, and that he undertake drug screens.
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