Arama Fox sentenced at Gladstone for Snapchat drug dealing

A surprising detail emerged in court as a Qld teen who sold drugs more than 20 times via Snapchat was sentenced.

Arama Karaka John Fox, 18, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs. Generic image.

A teenage drug dealer who used Snapchat to talk to his clients was “encouraged” by his gold mining mum, a court has heard.

Arama Karaka John Fox, 18, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and property obtained from trafficking or supplying.

The court heard that Fox was busted supplying cannabis mostly via Snapchat messaging, over a five-month period and police found him in possession of cannabis and money obtained from supplying drugs.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said of Fox’s offending: “They are serious offences – they are supplying drugs.”

Fox had no criminal history and Mr Boyd submitted for a probation order “in the vicinity of two years” and for convictions to be recorded to reflect the seriousness of the offending.

Solicitor Cam Schroder said Fox “really hasn’t had much guidance in his life.”

“His father leaving him when he was three years of age and his mother working away at gold mines in the Northern Territory and in Western Australia,” Mr Schroder said.

At that point of the solicitor’s submission, Magistrate Mary Buchanan referenced the 36-page sentencing schedule tendered earlier and said it seemed that Fox’s mum, who has not been charged with any offences, had been “supportive, if not encouraging” his behaviour.

Mr Schroder replied: “Yes, Your Honour.”

Mr Schroder said Fox had only made “small amounts of money” from selling the cannabis and he’d used that to buy food and spent some of it on his 140cc motorbike that he rode in bushland near his home at Tannum Sands.

He said Fox, who left school at the end of Year 11, did voluntary work for an elderly lady who lived nearby and wanted to get a job.

Mr Schroder submitted no conviction be recorded.

Magistrate Buchanan placed Fox on 18 months’ probation and ordered he perform 60 hours of unpaid community service.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Arama Fox sentenced at Gladstone for Snapchat drug dealing