George Marrogi’s brother, Jesse, charged as part of major bust

The younger brother of jailed underworld boss George Marrogi has been charged along with 24 others in a major bust on the Notorious Crime Family.

The younger brother of jailed underworld boss George Marrogi is one of 24 people facing charges after a major police bust on the gang.

Jesse Marrogi will face court on February 10 after police conducted a swoop on his older brother’s alleged money laundering empire.

George Marrogi founded Notorious Crime Family from his prison cell in 2019, allegedly running the empire from inside the Acacia unit within Barwon Prison.

Despite being in jail over the murder of Kadir Ors in 2016, he organised multimillion-dollar drug smuggling operations which it is alleged had a money-laundering arm.

Jesse Marrogi left Australia and travelled to the Middle East with his girlfriend Sabrine Maghnie after his brother was charged with major drug trafficking offences in April last year.

Sabrine Maghnie says she’s “taken by Mr Marrogi” on her Instagram account. Picture: Instagram

Jesse Marrogi in rapper BBG Smokey’s music video at the Marrogi house.

Sabrine is the daughter of slain gangland figure Nabil Maghnie who was once shot in a near-fatal ambush believed to have been carried out by George Marrogi.

Sabrine Maghnie reactivated her Instagram account in recent days, which indicates she is on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. It carries the notation “taken by Mr Marrogi.”

Jesse had previously appeared in a music video in which rapper BBG Smokey, real name Sean Deng, raps in front of a fleet of luxury cars linked to NCF.

He appeared in the video with his face covered, but the distinctive “f**k the law” tattoo on his stomach proved a giveaway.

Police suspect Jesse Marrogi has lived off some of the wealth accumulated by NCF.

Most of the exotic vehicles in the video have since been confiscated under proceeds of crime laws.

Sabrine Maghnie travelled the Middle East with Jesse Marrogi after his brother was charged. Picture: Instagram

Fifteen members of the alleged syndicate, who police suspect have been laundering millions of dollars of drug money on behalf of George Marrogi, faced court on Friday.

They included:

— Ali El-Akawi, from Roxburgh Park, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Khaled Bakdache, from Meadow Heights, charged with five offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Abdullah Ayad, from Roxburgh Park, charged with five offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Mahmoud Ayad, from Roxburgh Park, charged with five offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Khodr El-Badoui, from Fawkner, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Ayman El Moustafa, from Roxburgh Park, charged with two offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Fadi Ayad, from Thomastown, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Wissam Ayad, from Broadmeadows, charged with five offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Mahmoud Chaarani, from Craigieburn, charged with two offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Jessie Clark, from Moonee Ponds, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Mahmoud El Moustafa, from Greenvale, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $1 million.

— Abdul El Moustapha, from Craigieburn, charged with two offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Souad Ayad, from Meadow Heights, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Donaa Ayad, from Roxburgh Park, charged with four offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

— Mohamad Ayad, from Broadmeadows, charged with two offences including dealing with money or property that was the proceeds of crime and valued at more than $100,000.

The alleged gang members appeared on summons and each case was heard separately.

No details of the alleged offending were aired during the brief administrative hearings.

The group will return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in April.

A further seven alleged members, including Jesse Marrogi, are expected to face court on February 10.

The Echo taskforce investigation, dubbed Operation Steelers, has been ongoing for two years.

The operation, which focused on money laundering offences, is part of a broader investigation into the gang.

So far, 75 search warrants have been executed and more than $40m in assets confiscated.

Some alleged syndicate members have been charged with drug and firearm offences and threats to kill.

George Marrogi became the first inmate to be charged with directing a criminal organisation from inside jail.