Drug kingpin caught with his pants down
A TOWNSVILLE kingpin tracked down for selling “wholesale” amounts of meth to local dealers was caught with $7000 stuffed down his underwear.
Police caught up with Jessie Wayne Lucas after analysing text messages between him and another prominent Townsville dealer, Cameron James Standley, who was a “significant customer” of his.
Townsville Supreme Court heard more than 40g of “high quality” meth was found on his bedside table during a search of Lucas’
Kelso home on August 21, 2019.
Officers then found $7000 stuffed down his underpants, and $830 in his wallet.
Lucas pleaded guilty to multiple charges including trafficking in dangerous drugs, and possessing property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence.
The court heard in a sixweek period from July to August of that year, Lucas brought in more than a quarter of a million dollars through his lucrative business.
Crown prosecutor Andrew
Walklate said Lucas sold 840g of meth and 2.8kg of marijuana in that time, and had bragged that he only did the “big stuff”.
“(Lucas) was able to source very large quantities of meth and marijuana – there doesn’t appear to have been a drought (in his supply),” Mr Walklate said.
“The intercepted communications reveal 35 customers – and that he knew at least seven of those were onselling to their own supply base.”
Lucas went as far as accepting jewellery and laptops as payment, and even threatened violence to a customer
who had failed to pay up – and sent Standley the customer’s address when he said he wanted to join in.
It was heard Lucas sold between 294-588g of meth to Standley over the six weeks.
In 2021 Standley was sentenced to nine years’ jail for a range of charges including drug trafficking.
Defence barrister Darin Honchin submitted that Standley and Lucas were two traffickers who simply “came into orbit”, and that neither one had been a “leader”.
But Mr Walklate said considering the amount Lucas had sold, clear distinctions
could be drawn.
Mr Honchin said Lucas used the profits of his dealings to support his own “significant” addiction which despite attempts at rehabilitation, he could not kick.
He said his client’s life had taken a turn after being introduced to marijuana, which had derailed his budding career as an athlete.
Lucas was sentenced to 10 years’ behind bars, of which he must automatically serve 80 per cent before he can be eligible for parole.
Justice North declared 394 days of presentence custody as time served.