Firearm smuggler jailed
FORMER Geelong gun dealer Mark White has been jailed after he was caught with a deadly assault rifle that was smuggled into Australia.
The 47-year-old was locked up for three months yesterday, despite pleas from his lawyer that jail would have a devastating impact on White’s family. Wind Farm in western Victoria.
After arriving in Waurn Ponds yesterday morning, the massive convoy hit the road for Colac at 10pm.
It is due to arrive at the Mortlake wind farm about 8am tomorrow.
White was charged in August 2016 after an undercover police sting targeting associate Paul Munro led detectives to his joint home and firearms business in Whittington.
The father of two had provided part of an unbranded Thureon machine gun to Munro, who borrowed it to show to a covert operative posing as an interested buyer.
The fully automatic gun, capable of firing 1000 rounds a minute, was described in previous court hearings as a “mass killing machine”.
The gun initially came into White’s possession through Munro, who was caught smuggling a dozen similar firearms into Australia from the US.
He is serving a 15-year jail term for their importation.
White had faced similar importation charges but these were dropped before he pleaded guilty to a single count of possessing an unregistered Category E longarm.
Geelong County Court heard yesterday that while gun dealers could hold unregistered firearms, they were required to follow “well known” processes to notify relevant authorities, including Victoria Police.
White had enjoyed a long, unblemished career in the firearms industry until his arrest. His peers had ranked him one of the state’s top gunsmiths.
Defence barrister Glenn Casement argued his client should be spared jail.
He said White’s wife suffered an acquired brain injury, one of his sons had special needs and the family was struggling to cope with debt.
But Judge Gerard Mullaly said the seriousness of the firearm in White’s possession meant jail was necessary.
When released from prison, White will be placed on a twoyear corrections order requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.