Jye Bradley Pearson in Hervey Bay court for selling drugs on Instagram

An apprentice carpenter had a drug dealing side-hustle via social media, but an advertisement and selfie fail would bring it all undone.

Jye Bradley Pearson was dealing "Tutti Frutti" flavoured cannabis and a drug used to treat ADHD.

A 20-year-old apprentice carpenter whose was selling drugs via social media chat rooms has been sentenced in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

Jye Bradley Pearson pleaded guilty on Tuesday to offences committed between July and December, 2024 including five counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs, supplying hazardous poisons, possessing an instrument used in commission with a crime, possessing utensils, possessing restrictive medicines without an authority, and breaching bail orders.

Police were advised by a member of the public that a man was using Instagram to advertise the sale of illicit and dangerous drugs through a chat group and were provided a username, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kim Harwood told the court.

The account, “dealsonthebay”, which was later changed to “herveybaysalesman4655”, contained a link to the chat where illegal deals were finalised.

Police began following the account which advertised daily sales of drugs before submitting a request to Meta, parent company of Instagram, where they received a mobile phone number linked back to Pearson.

They continued to watch the page and on August 23, the account posted a selfie which matched Pearson’s description.

On August 28, police observed the account promoting a strain of cannabis called ‘Tutti Frutti’, while also advertising cannabis seeds and Ritalin, a drug commonly used to treat ADHD, the court heard.

Police executed a search warrant of Pearson’s home on August 30, where they found two bags containing cannabis and two smaller snap-lock bags holding cocaine, a bag of cannabis seeds, a single tablet of MDMA, and a bag containing 22 white tablets believed to be Ritalin.

Pearson was walked to the kitchen where he confirmed all suspicious substances listed were drugs, leading to his arrest.

Pearson’s lawyer, Virginia Ukpabi of Geldard-Sherrington Lawyers, sought a probation period due to her client’s age and lack of criminal history and as he was currently employed and contributing to the community.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie told Pearson he “needs to be aware that any time you come before the court for offences such as this, there is a risk that terms of imprisonment could be imposed.”

Pearson was placed on 12 months' probation with the condition that he attends counselling and education on illicit substance use.

Convictions were recorded.

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Originally published as Jye Bradley Pearson in Hervey Bay court for selling drugs on Instagram