Mick Gatto, UFU boss back coke criminal Danny Awad
Underworld figure Mick Gatto joined United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall and 33 others in writing character references for his son-in-law, Danny Awad, in the hope of reducing the jail term he faces for attempting to possess a commercial quantity of drugs.
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An underworld figure, the state’s militant fire union boss and a former Collingwood footy star are among dozens of people to offer glowing references for a man convicted over a $12 million cocaine haul.
Mick Gatto joined 34 others in writing character references for his son-in-law Danny Awad — all tendered in the County Court on Friday — in the hope of reducing the jail term he faces for attempting to possess a commercial quantity of drugs.
Awad, 41, is married to Gatto’s daughter, Sarah.
United Firefighters Union national secretary Peter Marshall — who is known to be a good mate of Gatto’s — also backed Awad, saying he was a “respectful husband”, “doting dad” and “a good role model” for his young relatives.
“I have no hesitation in formally stating my support for Danny at this time,” Mr Marshall wrote on a UFU letterhead. “I have come to personally know Danny through the family of his wife, Sarah. I know Danny to be a hardworking family man.”
Mr Marshall, who attended Awad’s wedding to Sarah in November 2016, said he was “somewhat shocked” on learning of his crimes.
“It is contrary to the Danny I know,” he said.
Former Magpie Paul Licuria went to Redden Catholic College in Preston with Awad and revealed in his statement how their 29-year friendship had helped him with struggles after his football career. “Since retiring from professional football I have on occasion struggled with life post-league football,” Licuria wrote. “Danny has played a significant role in inspiring me to remain physically fit and stay focused on my family and business.”
The two-time Copeland Trophy winner said the pair did early morning training sessions four days a week, adding how he had always found Awad to be “polite, genuine and a caring man”.
“He has a most engaging personality, a keen business mind and is extremely committed to his family, loyal to his friends and is very work focused,” Licuria wrote.
A jury found Awad and close friend John Tambakakis guilty of trying to possess 15kg of pure cocaine, which had been imported in five Xerox laserjet printers from Mexico in May 2017.
The drugs had an estimated street value of up to $12 million. The pair were never charged over the importation.
Federal police swooped on them soon after they unpacked the consignment in a warehouse at Airport West.
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Barrister Mark Gumbleton, for Awad, tried to downplay his client’s involvement, telling the court he only came to know of the consignment a day before. He said Awad should get less time behind bars than Tambakakis, who he said was more involved and had been in touch with the overseas importers.
County Court Judge Mark Dean will have to take into consideration the scores of references when sentencing Awad on Tuesday.
But Judge Dean warned Awad and Tambakakis were facing a “very long” term of imprisonment.