Jake David McEvoy, 20, sentenced over cocaine dealing

A teenager who ran a lucrative “business” selling cocaine and MDMA via Snapchat, sourced from the dark web, has been sentenced to five years jail.

Jake McEvoy, 20, of Gordonvale, was sentenced in Cairns Supreme Court to five years jail after pleading guilty to trafficking drugs, and will be eligible for parole after serving 15 months. Picture: Instagram

A teenager who ran a lucrative “business” selling cocaine and MDMA via Snapchat, sourced from the dark web, has been sentenced to five years jail.

Jake David McEvoy, 20, of Gordonvale, pleaded guilty in the Cairns Supreme Court to trafficking drugs and possessing drug utensils in 2023 when he was 19 years old, and to three counts of supplying cocaine and MDMA, and possessing 15.7g of MDMA and 18.15 grams of cocaine in 2024 while he was on bail.

Crown Prosecutor Hannah McNeale told the court police first searched McEvoy’s home on September 7, 2023.

She said they found messages on McEvoy’s phone that showed he had more than 20 regular, occasional and potential customers; had supplied about 1.5 ounces (52g) of cocaine and one ounce (28 grams) of MDMA over an eight-month period; and had offered to supply a total of 219 grams of cocaine to various people at a total cost of $74,000.

Jake McEvoy, 20, used Snapchat to advertise his drug menu, which included “A-grade Charlie and ‘hectic pearlies’. Picture: Instagram

She said McEvoy used Snapchat messages to advertise his drug ‘menu’ to clients, which included prices, quantities with descriptions of quality like ‘A-grade Charlie’, ‘hectic pearlies’ and ‘proper pearl – off it’s f—king head’.

She said McEvoy’s ‘menu style’ advertising ranged from 0.5 grams for $25, up to 28g of cocaine for $5750.

The messages also revealed he had offered to run a client through sourcing drugs on the dark web, including advice about exchanging cash into bitcoin, and managing delivery of drugs, which he said took about three days, the court was told.

Ms McNeale said it was difficult to calculate the full extent of McEvoy’s drug business because of his use of bitcoin, the dark web, his girlfriend’s bank account and apps such as Snapchat, whose messages disappear.

She described him as a high-level street dealer, selling mostly larger quantities for clients’ personal use, rather than being a “wholesaler”.

She said his crimes were aggravated by his continued supply of drugs while on bail for the original trafficking charges.

Justice James Henry said McEvoy’s continued supply of drugs while he was on bail aggravated his offending. Picture: Instagram

Police searched McEvoy’s home in late 2024 – a few days after his trafficking charge was committed to the Supreme Court – and they found more than 30g of cut drugs in two bags of brown and white powder – 18 grams of cocaine, and 15.7g of MDMA – which were in full view on his bedroom vanity cupboard, the court was told.

They also found evidence in his Snapchat of three supplies, Ms McNeale said.

Defence Barrister James Sheridan said McEvoy had been a drug-user at the time of his offending, but had since undergone counselling and programs.

He said McEvoy had a particularly disturbing upbringing, surrounded by extreme violence in an outlaw motorcycle gang family, leaving him with trauma and mental health issues that he had also made efforts to address.

He said McEvoy had secured a plumbing apprenticeship this year, and was highly-regarded by his employer who was at the sentencing hearing and had indicated he would be willing to take him on again.

Justice James Henry noted McEvoy was very young, and had good prospects in life if he could mature, kick his drug habit, and channel his obvious business acumen and resilience into other avenues.

Justice James Henry said McEvoy’s intelligence, the support of his employer, and his ‘resourcefulness’, combined to give hope for his future. Picture: Facebook

“He’s not an unintelligent human being – you can tell from the way he went about the business that is so,” Justice Henry said.

“The fact that he has got his employer’s support all rather combines to suggest that he could probably make something of his life despite the deprivation of his upbringing – he seems to be well-equipped intellectually, and with his resourcefulness, if he pursues a path of lawfulness to make something of his life,” Justice Henry said.

He said McEvoy’s youth, rehabilitation prospects, and timely guilty plea, convinced him that an earlier-than-usual parole eligibility date was warranted.

He sentenced McEvoy to five years jail with parole eligibility after he had served 15 months – on April 26, 2026 – which takes into account the two months he had already served in custody on remand.

Originally published as Jake David McEvoy, 20, sentenced over cocaine dealing