Caboose choc full of ice
Ex-boyfriend of dead girl: Crime family connection and bikie mates
THE man being questioned by police in relation to the shooting death of Ivona Jovanovic had a connection to the infamous Barbaro crime family and was twice caught smuggling drugs up his bottom into prison.
Christos Panagakos, 27, is behind bars on a return-toprison warrant after being arrested about 1am on Monday. He was returning to his Highland Park home, hours after his former girlfriend Ms Jovanovic was fatally shot. He has not been charged with any offence.
It is understood Panagakos and a number of other people were inside the home when Ms Jovanovic was shot in the chest about 8.30pm. They ran from the Renfrew Dve house, leaving the 27-year-old waitress dying on the ground.
No one has been charged in relation to Ms Jovanovic’s death.
Although not a member of the Mongols, it is alleged Panagakos has strong ties to the outlaw motorcycle gang.
Panagakos’ extensive criminal history includes: trafficking drugs; dangerous conduct with a weapon; trespass; supply drugs; obstruct police; possession of a shortened firearm; wilful damage; possess drugs; public nuisance; and failure to dispose of a syringe correctly.
In April 2016, Panagakos walked from court after pleading guilty to minor drug charges. He was facing eight drugs and weapons charges, but the more serious charges were dropped after it was ruled police had unlawfully searched his car.
It was alleged in court at the time that Panagakos was suspected of being “involved in a criminal network” and in “drug distribution network” but police found only small amounts of drugs and $16,650 in cash at his home. Police also found a “tick sheet” of alleged drug debts under his bed.
Court documents revealed Panagakos had been at a Coolangatta restaurant with Rossario Dom Barbaro, brother of slain Melbourne underworld figure Pasquale and Villains gang member Harley, hours before his home was raided.
The pair were both charged with possession of a commercial quantity of ice after a search of Panagakos’ car uncovered 28g of the drug. This was the charge dropped after Supreme Court Judge Martin Daubney ruled police had unlawfully searched his car.
Justice John Byrne sentenced Panagakos to 18 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to the minor drugs and weapons charges.
He walked from court after serving seven months at Capricornia Correctional Centre outside Rockhampton.
Panagakos then moved to Mackay to live with his then girlfriend.
A year later, on July 25, 2017, Panagakos fronted a Mackay court after phone taps brought down his drug dealing enterprise. He pleaded guilty to three charges of trafficking dangerous drugs (meth and ecstasy) between March and April 2015.
Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crane said at the time Panagakos was caught up in a “web of activity” with other drug dealers and buyers.
Discovered by police text intercepts, the last charge involved the sale of 500 MDMA (ecstasy) pills.
Mr Crane described Panagakos’ wholesale dealing as sophisticated and a considerable logistical exercise.
His defence barrister Ron Frigo said Panagakos had been “in the grips of drug addiction” since he was 17 or 18, but had been clean for a year.
On July 27, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail, with a parole eligibility of 10 months.
In a continuing turn, Panagakos underwent an extensive body search as he was being prepared to be sent to prison, when drugs dropped from his buttocks.
He had stashed ice and valium inside his backside in an “extremely stupid” attempt at smuggling drugs into prison.
It was revealed in court that Panagakos was busted after a similar stunt at Ipswich police station in July 2015, when he smuggled in a bag of assorted drugs in his buttocks.
The then 25-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of drug possession.