Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi in Maroochydore court for stealing, fraud

A 30-year-old man who “ran a business” with a thief selling stolen tools also swiped thousands of dollars of electrical goods and was caught with cocaine.

Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court for stealing and fraud offences. Photo: social media

A man who swiped thousands of dollars in electronics and sold stolen tools for cash has been told by a magistrate he was essentially running a business.

Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi, 30, pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 23 to 28 charges including eight counts of stealing.

The court was told the offences occurred between February 2023 and July 2024, which included stealing items from various shops and receiving stolen tradesman tools to sell them at Cash Converters for profit.

Police prosecutor Shane Raison said he had stolen a laptop worth $593, a Samsung phone worth $1647, and a smartwatch worth $799.

He had also stolen clothing from City Beach twice, amounting to more than $300 in total, and cigarettes worth $45.

Pepi was also found in possession of cocaine.

Senior Sergeant Raison suggested in consideration of the “sheer brazenness of offending” Pepi be sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with immediate release counting his period of pre-sentence custody.

Defence lawyer Katie Patterson told the court her client has been suffering from a period of substance abuse, sometimes daily, which had increased after a personal loss in the past.

She said Pepi had worked as a labourer for most of his life but had not been employed during the period of his offending.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin commented Pepi had “specialised” in Makita brand tools when selling the items off to Cash Converters.

He remarked Pepi must have been close with the thief considering he had a “steady supply” of tools to sell.

The value of the stolen tools in addition to the profit made from selling the items to Cash Converters was estimated to be about $6000, the court heard.

“You are running a business is what it amounts to,” Mr McLaughlin said.

The tradesmen victims of the thefts had their tools returned.

Mr McLaughlin sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole release and declared his 113 days in pre-sentence custody as time served.

Convictions were recorded.

Pepi pleaded guilty to eight counts of stealing, eight counts of fraud, four of receiving and two of possessing tainted property, three of possessing drugs, one of possessing drug utensils, one of breaching bail and one of failing to report.

Originally published as Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi in Maroochydore court for stealing, fraud