Croydon thug Tyrone Russell jailed for running drug racket at grandparents’ home

A savage thug involved in a horror one-punch killing is back in jail for running a drug racket at his grandparents’ Croydon Hills home.

Tyrone Russell was jailed for trafficking MDMA. Facebook.

A violent thug who ran a drug racket from his grandparents’ Croydon Hills home has been jailed.

Tyrone Russell, 29, was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to a minimum three years’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking a commercial quantity of MDMA.

Russell landed back on the police radar after he rented a car in Bayswater on October 1 last year.

Investigators tracked Russell before he was intercepted in Glenburn the next day.

Russell told police he was on his way to Cairns for a “footy trip”.

Police searched the rental car and discovered two bags of empty capsules in the boot and $2750 in Russell’s black satchel.

Russell refused to cough up his mobile phone PIN number so he was hauled back to Croydon police station.

The rental car was towed back to the station and searched.

Russell has priors for drug offences and violence.

Investigators discovered several cryovac bags hidden in the lining of the boot door.

The bags contained drugs including more than 800g of MDMA, 177g of cocaine and 31g of cannabis.

Police raided the Croydon Hills home Russell shared with his grandparents the next day.

Investigators seized more cocaine, almost $5000 worth, and 417g of meth in specially marked bags from a locked safe.

Russell claimed he was planning on selling the drugs in Cairns to members of his football club and members of other football clubs.

Russell, who grew up in Melbourne’s outer east, went to Croydon Secondary College before starting his own fencing company.

Russell is also heavily involved with Coldstream Football and Netball Club both as player and sponsor.

The violent thug is also trained in martial arts and has had some organised bouts.

Russell was busted on his way to a football trip.

Judge David Sexton said Russell’s said the potential profit to Russell would have been substantial and the drugs would have “caused harm” to the community.

“Your conduct sits above low level examples (of drug trafficking),” Judge Sexton said.

Russell, who also pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime was jailed for a maximum four years and nine months.

He had spent 365 days on remand.

Russell has a significant criminal history which includes multiple priors for drug and violence offending.

In 2012, Russell was involved in a sickening attack in Rye on New Year’s Eve when his crony Dylan Closter punched and killed 22-year-old landscaper David Cassai.

Russell pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury, recklessly causing serious injury and affray for his role in the death.

His jail sentence was doubled on appeal after a court heard Russell attacked Mr Cassai’s friends to stop them from helping their mate.

Closter was jailed for more than nine years.

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