Ben Cao: Narre Warren man caught with guns, drugs under bed | crime

A Narre Warren business owner has claimed he turned to crime to claw back his finances after a scam destroyed his business.

Five guns were found under Cao’s bed. (Generic photo)

A Narre Warren business owner who was caught with an arsenal of guns and a large drug stash was trying to recover from being the victim of a major loan scam, a court has heard.

Ben Cao, 32, was sentenced to a minimum of two years and four months’ jail before the County Court, having pleaded guilty to charges including possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms and trafficking meth and heroin.

Police discovered Cao was hoarding six guns in his bedroom after they pulled him over when he was wanted over driving offences and carrying a large drug stash.

Cao was stopped when he was riding his motorcycle on Pound Rd, Narre Warren just before midnight on November 12, 2019.

He was found to be wanted over driving matters, leading to police arresting him and searching his bag.

The court heard officers found 162g of meth between six deal bags, $9,466.55 cash and three phones.

When investigators searched Cao’s home the next morning they found five guns under his bed — a .45 automatic colt pistol, a 7.62 x 25mm calibre semi automatic pistol. a .357 Magnum calibre six-shot revolver, a .308 Winchester calibre pump-action rifle and a .22 calibre pump-action rifle.

A 12-gauge homemade shotgun was found in pieces in his wardrobe, while a range of firearm parts and a handgun holster were also found around the bedroom.

Police also found rounds of ammunition in boxes beside his bed, knuckle dusters, and 27.7g of heroin and .5g of meth on his dresser.

There was a further 28g of meth discovered in his garage.

In total, Cao was caught with a whopping 192.5g of meth.

But the court heard police had been unable to find any evidence Cao had been trafficking the drugs other than the huge amount he had.

There was also no evidence that he had an intention to use the guns, aligning with his claim that his weapon collection was simply due to his fascination with guns.

Judge Carolene Gwynn said she was sceptical of such a claim, but that the evidence didn’t indicate otherwise.

“I am genuinely concerned about the guns found in your possession and the number of and nature of the weapons — the majority of which were high powered,” Judge Gwynn said.

She said Cao’s culpability for the crimes was high.

It was heard Cao had suffered significant difficulties including being bullied at school, which led to him teaching himself martial arts and collecting weaponry, and having to have surgery on a brain tumour.

Cao left school at Year 9 to do plastering and carpentry but was the victim of a workplace injury at 22, which left him unable to work due to back pain.

The court heard he went on to be hospitalised numerous times for drug overdoses and become a serious gambler.

It was heard he started a successful business Prosperity Developments, bringing in decorative items from China, seven years ago, but it was brought down when Cao invested in a loan scheme that turned out to be fraudulent.

He told the court the scheme took about $900,000 of his and his family’s money, and he was trying to regain his financial position by drug dealing.

Judge Gwynn noted Cao had a supportive family, who were suffering due to his incarceration, that he had pleaded guilty early, and that he had a very minor criminal history.

Cao was sentenced to a maximum of four years and two months’ jail, having already served 624 days, and was fined $3250.