FULL LIST: QLD parents’ drug crimes exposed in 2023
These Queensland parents had more than most to hide, but the depths of their drug crimes have now been revealed. SEE THE LIST.
Police & Courts
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From sizeable home stashes and street level suppliers to those who threw their hats into the drug-trafficking ring, countless parents have fronted Queensland offences for drug offending this year.
In one of the most notable cases Queensland courts have seen this year, meth-smoking mum Kerri-Ann Conley was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in February after leaving her daughters to die in a hot car.
Justice Peter Applegarth reprimanded Conley for her drug use, noting the Brisbane mum had told police she smoked meth daily but her children “always came first”.
“That astounding statement is one that only a drug addict could make,” Justice Applegarth said.
“If a parent smokes methylamphetamine, even in a tiny quantity, their children can never come first. Meth always wins that race. Their children, at best, come a very distant second.”
Conley pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and will be eligible for parole in November 2024, as she had already served 1179 days in presentence custody.
The crimes on this list are in no way comparable to Conley’s, but drug addiction remains a common feature.
They include a straighten-arrow nurse who spiralled into addiction after an abusive ex introduced her to cocaine, and a drug dealer who became determined to turn his life around after his child was born.
See the faces of 21 Queensland drug parents and the crimes that led them to face court this year:
TIMOTHY BEAZLEY: ROCKHAMPTON
Father of two Timothy Beazley was out of prison for just four months when he was busted with a meth stash worth almost $100,000.
The former miner had previously been jailed for trafficking drugs in 2020.
The court heard Beazley had agreed to be a drug courier after his release to help pay off his drug debts.
In March 2022, Beazley was parked out of a known drug offender’s home in Gladstone when police uncovered the drug stash in the back of his car.
It included 240.277 grams of substance containing 181.777g of pure meth worth $81,000 to $99,000.
Beazley had been diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, gambling disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He pleaded guilty to a swath of offences including possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug, and he was sentenced to eight years imprisonment – to run concurrently with his previous sentence.
His parole eligibility date was set for March 14, 2024.
SAMANTHA-JO BEVERSTOCK: BRISBANE
Makeup artist and mum of two Samantha-Jo Beverstock fronted court earlier this year for selling drugs via the encrypted app Signal.
Her offending primarily related to the supply of cocaine, and included seven actual supplies of various drugs and nine offers to supply drugs.
The Brisbane District Court heard that Beverstock was also pregnant with twins at the time of sentence.
Judge Byrne warned her: “If you don’t turn things around, your children are going to have a role model who is sitting in jail. That’s the reality,” he said.
Beverstock pleaded guilty to 16 counts of supplying various drugs, and three charges of possessing drugs.
She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years jail with immediate parole, and her 79 days of pre-sentence custody were taken into account.
DARRYL BLANEY: MACKAY
Father of two Darryl Blaney fronted Mackay Magistrates Court in May after police found a stash of drugs and weapons in his Sarina home.
The stash included 0.1g of methamphetamines, 0.1g of marijuana, a shortened firearm, replica firearm gel blasters, a taser torch, numerous stolen mobile phones, debit cards, 99 rounds of ammunition, a laser pointer, and other drug-related items.
The court heard Blaney had used methamphetamines during “relationship troubles” with the mother of his children – who lived with their grandparents and Blaney.
Blaney had checked himself into a Townsville facility and completed three months of drug rehabilitation, with hopes of regaining control.
He pleaded guilty to 18 charges and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment with immediate parole.
LAUREN CARNALL: MORETON
Deception Bay mum Lauren Carnall told a court that she had turned to drug trafficking to put a roof over her and her daughters head after fleeing a domestic violence situation.
The Supreme Court heard Carnall had supplied drugs – including ice, cannabis and ecstasy – on 49 occasions to 14 customers over around five months.
Her offending was uncovered after police found meth hidden in her bra while searching a home in Brendale on October 6, 2021.
Carnall pleaded guilty to trafficking and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
KELLEY DREW: FRASER COAST
Fraser Coast mum Kelley Drew avoided any actual jail time for possessing 37 grams of meth after proving she had kicked her drug habit.
Police had found the 37 grams of meths in multiple bags in Drew’s home during a raid, the Maryborough Supreme Court heard.
Crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said the drugs were for a mix of personal and commercial uses.
The court heard Drew had successfully kicked her drug habit at the time of sentence however, with a hair follicle test revealing that she had been clean for a year.
Drew pleaded guilty to aggravated possession of dangerous drugs and was sentenced to three years imprisonment with immediate parole release.
MAXWELL HELLWEGE: MACKAY
A former drug dealer busted with a $30k meth stash walked free from the Mackay Supreme Court earlier this year after a court heard he had since had a child and changed his life around.
In 2021, police found Maxwell Timothy Hellwege with a stash of $24,985 cash and 83.246g of pure meth with a street value of around $30,000.
They also found a record of drug debts, 20 Viagra tablets and nunchucks.
The court heard Hellwege was a “drug dependent person” and had committed some of his offences while on bail for earlier drug offending.
By the time of sentencing in 2023, the court heard Hellwege completed a rehab program, had a 10-month-old child and had also secured a mining job.
Hellwege pleaded guilty to six offences including aggravated drug possession and dangerous driving.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment immediately suspended, with nine days in presentence custody declared as time-served.
He was also sentenced to two years’ probation.
DAHNA JUBB: ROCKHAMPTON
Dahna Jubb fronted Rockhampton Supreme Court earlier this year for her role in her ex-partner’s drug enterprise.
The court heard the mum had been Darren Steven Burnell’s “romantic and business partner” between November 2020 and February 2021.
Burnell pleaded guilty to a number of offences last year including drug trafficking, which had occurred throughout those months.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after two years in actual custody.
In March 2023, the court heard Jubb had been “wholly immersed” in Burnell’s drug trafficking enterprise and had “regularly encouraged” Burnell to commit acts of violence.
The court heard Jubb supplied at least 11.4g of meth throughout the offending period, to at least nine different customers of Burnell’s trafficking operation.
Since her offending, the court heard Jubb had relocated to Capalaba and had kept clear of drugs.
Jubb was sentenced to three years imprisonment, to be suspended after serving seven months and five days.
She is scheduled for release on July 15 this year.
JAKE KING: MACKAY
Father of two Jake King fronted the Mackay Supreme Court earlier this year after police found him with over 4g of cocaine.
The court heard King had been parked outside the home of a person known to be linked to drugs at the time.
In King’s car, police found $1600 cash, and a number of clip seal bags containing a total 22.434g of substance – 4.36g of which was pure cocaine.
Defence barrister Scott Mclennan said his client had since removed himself from his drug-using associates and sought treatment for his mental health.
King pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
FELICITY KOFFAL: IPSWICH
Meth-addicted mum Felicity Koffal was jailed earlier this year after she continued to supply drugs within months of being granted immediate parole for similar offending.
The Ipswich District Court heard Koffall had supplied methamphetamine and cannabis at a low street-level on 23 occasions between July and November 2021.
She had been sentenced earlier that year to 18 months imprisonment with immediate parole for 13 counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
Judge Dennis Lynch noted Koffal had told the court at the time of that previous sentence that she had been clean from drugs for a year – which he said “might seem unlikely … looking at things now”.
Koffal pleaded guilty to 25 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime (a mobile phone), and possessing utensils or pipes.
She was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with immediate parole eligibility.
Koffal was taken into custody where she could then apply for parole.
SALLY MACNEILL: GOLD COAST
Nurse and mum-of-three Sally Louise MacNeill fronted Southport District Court earlier this year for dealing cocaine.
Aged 41 at the time of sentence, MacNeill had no criminal history – but the court heard her life had spiralled after she was introduced to cocaine by an abusive partner.
Police raided her Robina home in late 2021 and found small amounts of cocaine, 2g of marijuana, a Valium tablet and a set of scales.
They discovered she had supplied or arranged to supply cocaine on three occasions – including one transaction of 3g for $1050.
Judge David Kent noted MacNeill was likely well aware, given her 15 years working in nursing, how damaging drugs were to the community.
MacNeill pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs, two each of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing items used in the commission of a crime, and one of possessing unauthorised medicines.
She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended immediately for two years, along with 12 months probation.
Convictions were only recorded for two supply offences.
MARGUERITA MCGILL: BRISBANE
Mum-of-four Marguerita McGill was busted last year trying to smuggle drugs to her son in Wacol prison.
She claimed she had done so out of misguided loyalty, but was blasted by Judge Jeffrey Clarke who told her: “I can’t see how you can be loyal to your son by providing him with a dangerous drug”.
The Brisbane District Court heard McGill had used coded conversations with her imprisoned son to arrange the delivery of 6.8 grams of buprenorphine.
However, McGill was intercepted by police upon her arrival.
She pleaded guilty to one count of supplying dangerous drugs within a correctional facility and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 12 months.
BLAIR MILNE: BRISBANE
Father-of-four Blair Milne dropped a bag of drugs and cash while fleeing a police helicopter in 2021.
The drugs included 15.45g of pure cocaine in 20.278g of substance, and 2.5g of pure methamphetamine in around 3.5g of substance.
The Brisbane Supreme Court heard during Milne’s sentence earlier this year that he had sold drugs to fund his own addiction.
The court heard Milne had a “deplorable” criminal history, which included 15 prior convictions for possessing dangerous drugs.
Milne pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and was sentenced to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.
SIAN NEWBERRY: SOUTH BURNETT
Mum of four Sian Newberry fronted Kingaroy District Court earlier this year for supplying methamphetamine and cannabis.
Newberry had supplied drugs on eight occasions and had seven regular customers.
The court heard she had needed the extra money, but had only made $400 profit.
Her defence barrister Francis Martin told the court the offending had affected her relationship with her children.
Newberry pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully supplying dangerous drugs, one count of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of possessing dangerous drugs.
She was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
CAIDEE OGSTON-HUGHES: TOWNSVILLE
Townsville mum Caidee Jade Ogston-Hughes was busted selling ice, cocaine, and other drugs through her daily advertisements on Snapchat.
The Snapchat advertisements set out her price charts and boasted about her speed of supply.
The Supreme Court heard Ogston-Hughes had more than 110 customers, who she amassed between August 2021 and April 2022.
A police raid uncovered that $34,000 had been deposited in her bank account during the offending period, through 274 bank transactions.
The court heard Ogston-Hughes had three children, but that one had passed away in tragic circumstances.
She was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, suspended for four years – having spent 426 days in presentence custody.
She was further ordered to serve two years’ probation.
JAMES PATTENDEN: ROCKHAMPTON
James Pattenden trafficked methamphetamine and marijuana for around two months in late 2021 and early 2022 to pay off his drug debt.
The Rockhampton Supreme Court heard Pattenden supplied small amounts on 43 occasions.
During those months, Pattenden was also involved in the armed robbery of a pub in North Rockhampton.
The court heard the father of one had struggled with drug use, but had been clean while remanded in custody.
Pattenden pleaded guilty in June 2023 to armed robbery and trafficking dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to nine years’ prison, with 442 days of presentence custody declared time-served.
He will be eligible for parole on December 7, 2024.
VILISI SAQASAQA: SUNSHINE COAST
Churchgoing dad Vilisi Saqasaqa fronted Maroochydore Magistrates Court earlier this year after he was found with illegal Viagra pills at the pokies.
Police had been conducting a liquor license check at Kawana Waters Hotel when they observed Saqasaqa behaving unusually energetic and fidgety while playing pokies.
They uncovered him in possession of 16 Viagra pills, which had not been prescribed to him.
The court heard police also searched Saqasaqa’s Sippy Downs home a month earlier and found 0.86g of cocaine and a pipe in his bedroom.
Saqasaqa pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, Viagra and the drug utensils.
He was fined $750 and a conviction was recorded.
BIANCA SERIO: ROCKHAMPTON
Bianca Serio fronted Rockhampton Supreme Court earlier this year after becoming a trafficker’s sidekick to feed her own drug addiction.
The court heard Serio trafficked methamphetamine between November 20, 2020 and February 1, 2021.
She operated under Darren Burnell, who was sentenced to five years prison last year for trafficking meth.
At Serio’s sentence, the court heard she had collected at least $7700 worth of drug debts for Burnell and introduced him to other drug associates.
Defence barrister Scott Lynch said his client had been “under the claw of Burnell,” who he said was “very controlling”.
He said Serio was now clean and working on her rehabilitation while living with her daughter in Emerald.
Serio pleaded guilty to charges including trafficking dangerous drugs, and was sentenced to three years’ jail with immediate parole.
Her 129 days in presentence custody were declared time already served.
JAMIE SKILLEN: FRASER COAST
Father of four Jamie Arnold Skillen was busted with a “boxed laboratory” for making meth in his wardrobe.
The Hervey Bay District Court heard police raided the concreter’s home in March 2022 and uncovered the stash of chemicals and apparatuses needed to make meth.
They also found two small cannabis plants, along with small quantities of meth, cannabis, and drug utensils.
The court heard Skillen became addicted to ice after a relationship breakdown with the mother of his children.
At the time of sentence in May 2023, the court heard Skillen had little contact with his four children.
Skillen pleaded guilty to charges including producing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and two of unlawfully possessing a relevant substance or thing.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with parole release after six months.
RAYMA SWEETMAN: ROCKHAMPTON
Young mum Rayma Sweetman fronted Rockhampton Magistrates Court earlier this year for a string of offences including possessing drug utensils and a taser.
Her fingerprints were also found inside a stolen VW, and the court heard Sweetman had admitted to knowing the car was stolen.
The court heard she had previously been sentenced to 18 months prison in the Rockhampton District Court for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, theft and stealing fuel.
Sweetman had started using drugs at a young age, but had engaged with Lives Lived Well since her more recent offending.
She pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possessing a weapon, two counts of possessing drug pipes and one of possessing electronic scales.
She was sentenced to two years probation and convictions were recorded.
TIMOTHY WAGHORN: IPSWICH
Father-of-five Timothy Waghorn landed himself on track for deportation after spiralling into drug addiction, a court heard earlier this year.
Waghorn fronted Ipswich District Court in March after police found incriminating messages on his phone revealing he had supplied “some points” of methamphetamine in exchange for a phone in October 2021.
Defence barrister Emily Lewsey said her client had struggled with drug addiction for nearly a decade, and that Waghorn now realised his meth use had “ruined his life”.
The court heard the New Zealand-born truck driver would be deported upon his release.
He intended to contest the cancellation from his home country to that he could return to Australia and reunite with his children.
Waghorn pleaded guilty to supplying methamphetamine and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
Waghorn was convicted but not further punished, with 372 days of presentence custody taken into account.
FARRON WINKWORTH: WARWICK
Father-of-two Farron Winkworth fronted Warwick District Court after his large-scale drug operation was uncovered.
Winkworth sold methamphetamine on at least 130 occasions at a wholesale and street level from December 2021 to 2022.
The court heard he was motivated “purely by profit” and not by a drug habit of his own.
After police found $7850 cash in Winkworth’s car, the court heard he told them his offending “just sort of happened”.
Winkworth pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including trafficking dangerous drugs, seven counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and two counts of possessing $13,320 suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, with immediate parole release.
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Originally published as FULL LIST: QLD parents’ drug crimes exposed in 2023
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