Brandon ‘Ivy’ Sardi sentenced over commercial drug supply

A former drug dealer from Sydney’s west has “turned his life around”, focusing his efforts on motivational speaking in a bid to “undo the damage” caused in his past, a court has heard.

Brandon Sardi, who goes by Ivy Sardi on social media, now shares coaching advice on health and fitness. Source: Facebook

A reformed drug dealer turned motivational speaker and online health coach has described his “nightmare past” directing a cocaine syndicate in which he was busted selling drugs by the ounce to an undercover cop, a court heard.

Brandon Sardi, of Jordan Springs, who goes under the social media handle of Ivy Sardi, faced Penrith District Court after pleading guilty to knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and supplying the commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Additional charges of knowingly directing activities of a criminal group and two counts of supplying more than the indictable amount of a prohibited drug were taken into account on sentence.

Agreed facts tendered to the court outline how the 31-year-old, who was in the throes of a drug addiction of his own, spent three months in 2021 directing a cocaine syndicate which delivered a total of 376.5 grams of cocaine across Sydney’s western suburbs on 72 occasions.

Sardi's shares health and fitness advice. Picture: Instagram

Sardi’s social media profile. Picture: Instagram

Enlisted to help run the operation were Gabrielle Schembri 36, Michael Spanos 30, and Rory Simms who – under the direction of Sardi – did the bulk of deliveries, “mitigating his risk of being arrested”, the court heard.

Simms was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order while Schembri was sentenced to a nine month intensive correction order.

Michael Spanos was convicted to a seven-month intensive correction order.

Among those who Sardi and his foot soldiers dispensed drugs to multiple times were undercover police, including one instance where two ounces (0.05kg of cocaine) was unwittingly sold to an officer for $15,000, the court heard.

On March 29 Sardi was arrested and a police raid the same day uncovered $186,000 in cash, 914g of cocaine, 10.3g of methamphetamine inside awestern Sydney residence.

A search of a gym also uncovered $84,500 in cash stashed in a gym bag.

Brandon Sardi leaves Penrith Local Court in 2023.

During sentencing, Judge Lara Gallagher said while she accepted Sardi was battling a cocaine addiction at the time, she was not satisfied that was his primary motivation for the offending.

“Given the amount of money in his possession I do not accept that he engaged in the enterprise purely to feed his addiction, and wasn’t after financial gain,” she said.

Judge Gallagher also described Sardi’s offending as above that of a street dealer, calling it a “medium tier” operation that dealt with bulk quantities of drugs and cash.

The court heard that Sardi viewed his arrest as “saving him from the cycle of addiction”, during a time when he was on “back to back benders”.

Gabrielle Schembri was sentenced to a nine month intensive corrections order.

Since coming clean from drug use, Sardi feels “shame at being involved in the pain and contributing to the addictions of others” and was committed to “undoing the damage caused in the past”, the court heard.

A character reference, written by the head of a local charity, said Sardi’s “inspirational story” made him a role model to the young people with whom he has worked after he turned his past mistakes into “valuable lessons”.

A second character reference from Sardi’s father described his son as a “completely different person” who now wants to “give back by motivating those stuck in addiction”.

Rory Simms was sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order.

As well as sharing motivational life lessons and cautionary tales, Sardi is also now engaged in online health coaching and personal training, the court heard.

Judge Gallagher congratulated Sardi on his “excellent prospects” for rehabilitation and accepted his remorse as genuine.

“They were very serious offences but I am very confident that you’ve left that life behind, to teach young people on the dangers of embarking on a life like that,’’ she said.

Sardi was convicted and sentenced to an intensive correction order for two years, nine months and was ordered to undergo 500 hours of community service.

Originally published as Brandon ‘Ivy’ Sardi sentenced over commercial drug supply