by Nicholas CrawfordAcquittal for client charged with cocaine importation – Operation Lamister.
Operation Lamister commenced in 2014 by the Australian Federal Police and involved several co-offenders charged with attempting to import almost 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a 13-metre yacht.
After extensive surveillance of the yacht’s route throughout Ecuador and the Pacific Islands, the yacht eventually anchored in a Gold Coast marina where the drugs were removed from the vessel.
The two co-offenders met with our client at a café nearby where they were intercepted and arrested by Australian Federal Police. Our client was subsequently charged with one count of ‘Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs’.
After a comprehensive review of the Brief of Evidence by Nick Crawford of our office, it was evident that there was no direct evidence to support a link between our client and the principal offenders, or that our client knew of the dangerous drugs located on the yacht.
Our client entered a plea of not guilty and was committed to trial before the Brisbane District Court in September 2018 with Nick Crawford instructing Doug Wilson of Counsel.
After an eight-day trial, the Jury reached their decision after deliberating for two days. The principal offenders were convicted and the Jury returned a not guilty verdict for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
Related Article: Men convicted of smuggling cocaine into Queensland on luxury yacht
by Nicholas CrawfordOnly 4 weeks jail for multiple counts of production of methamphetamine
On 6 January 2016, our client was intercepted by police in a car. Our client fled on foot. A search of the revealed glassware, a PH meter, containers, water pumps, hoses, methamphetamine, MSM and other utensils indicative of production of methamphetamine. (more…)
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Papa Jersey – Trafficking charge discontinued after submission
Operation Papa Jersey commenced in July 2017 targeting individuals transporting commercial quantities of methamphetamine from Brisbane to Mackay.
Police obtained telecommunications intercepts of principal offenders which resulted in our client being identified as a person of interest.
Following two search warrants and the arrest of the principal offenders, our client was also arrested and charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs namely methamphetamine for a four-month period.
Trafficking in dangerous drugs at the time of the offence carried a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
After review of the Brief of Evidence including extensive telecommunications material, Nick Crawford of our office sent a submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to discontinue the charge as the brief contained no evidence of carrying on a business of trafficking in dangerous drug. The Crown accepted this submission and discontinued the trafficking charge leaving Possession charges only.
The weakness of the trafficking case was also central to successful application for bail from the Brisbane Supreme Court. On 8 November 2018, Nick Crawford appeared before Justice Davis and successfully argued for bail for the client with conditions.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordClient acquitted of Grievous Bodily Harm
In November 2014, the police investigated a physical altercation which occurred between neighbours in a North Brisbane suburb.
Following a verbal argument, the complainant punched our client in the face and pushed him in the chest. Our client pushed the complainant back causing him to fall and break his wrist.
Our client was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of Grievous Bodily Harm.
After a review of the Brief of Evidence by Nick Crawford of our office, it was evident that our client acted reasonably in self-defence. As a result, the matter was listed for a jury trial before the Brisbane District Court in late 2018. The trial commenced on 7 November 2018 with Nick Crawford instructing Christopher Wilson of Counsel.
After a three-day trial, the Jury returned a verdict of not guilty and our client was acquitted of the charge. This was an excellent result for our client as a conviction of Grievous Bodily Harm carries a maximum period of imprisonment of 14 years.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Oscar Ektara – Drug Trafficking with immediate parole
After a seven-month police investigation, our client was arrested in March 2017 for trafficking in the dangerous drug methylamphetamine.
With over 700 drug related messages identified by police relating to methylamphetamine purchases, the charge alleged against our client was supported by strong evidence produced by the Department of Public Prosecutions.
Nicholas Crawford instructed Christopher Wilson of Counsel in the Brisbane Supreme Court where our client entered a plea of guilty to trafficking methylamphetamine for a period of four months.
After hearing lengthy submissions and despite the strong circumstantial evidence against her, our client was sentenced to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.
by Nicholas CrawfordClient Acquitted on Armed Robbery Charges after District Court Trial
In May 2017 our client was arrested and accused of offences which occurred in August 2015 consisting of burglary while armed and armed robbery with the aggravating feature of being in company with a co-accused.
A co-accused named our client as the person armed with the firearm in the offence and the key perpetrator in the robbery.
Facing a potential four to five years imprisonment if found guilty, our client entered a plea of not guilty to both charges and had the matter set down for a jury trial.
During the trial, numerous witnesses gave evidence to describe the armed offender which conflicted with the build and identifying features of our client.
There was no supporting DNA, photographs or identification of any kind to support our client was the armed offender and no evidence to substantiate that our client could be positively identified as the gun man beyond reasonable doubt.
At the conclusion of the second day of trial, the jury returned with a not guilty verdict on both counts in under thirty minutes.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.
by Nicholas CrawfordWholly Suspended Sentence for 70k Fraud in Melbourne Magistrates Court
Nicholas Crawford of our office appeared before the Heidelberg Magistrates Court in Melbourne in April 2018 in relation to a false accounting and theft investigation.
The allegations spanned over a three-year period between 2003 and 2005 during the time our client was employed with Flight Centre.
While she was employed there, police alleged that our client stole over $58,000 in cash and used false accounting techniques to obtain free flights for herself, family and friends in excess of $27,000.
After reviewing the brief of evidence, our office determined that several charges were not sufficiently substantiated. Our office provided a submission to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s office which resulted in the discontinuance of 10 charges.
Our client entered a plea of guilty to the remaining charges and following submissions by Counsel instructed by our office, the Presiding Magistrate sentenced our client to a wholly-suspended sentence of 12 months.
Considering the amount of money involved, this was an excellent result for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordSecurity Guard Acquitted of Grievous Bodily Harm Charge Following District Court Trial
In September of 2015 our client was working as a security guard at the Mon Jomo Hotel. The complainant in the matter had been asked to leave the venue by our client. As the complainant was leaving he pushed our client and our client reacted by doing the same. The complainant in the matter then again pushed our client. Our client then pushed him back. This push caused the complainant to lose his footing and land onto the tiled area at the front door of the venue. The complainant suffered extensive injuries and police alleged that these injuries were consistent with Grievous Bodily Harm.
Our client was subsequently charged with the offence of Grievous Bodily Harm. This matter was committed to the Brisbane District Court for trial as Nick Crawford, the solicitor with carriage had the view that there were high prospects of acquittal. The trial was before the Brisbane District Court in October of 2017. Our client was found not guilty by the jury for the count of Grievous Bodily Harm and was acquitted.
Grievous Bodily Harm carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. Therefore, this acquittal was the best possible outcome for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Oscar Playwright – Wholly Suspended Sentence for Drug Trafficking
In 2017 our client was charged with trafficking in the dangerous drug methylamphetamine for a period of twelve months. In 2018 the Department of Public Prosecutions later provided a draft schedule of facts which provided for a significantly larger trafficking period of twenty-two months.
After reviewing substantial telephone intercept material in the brief of evidence, Nicholas Crawford made a submission to the Department of Public Prosecutions to reduce the trafficking period back to twelve months to reflect the contents of the brief of evidence.
This submission was accepted and our client entered a plea of guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs for a one-year period, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a thing used in connection with trafficking in a dangerous drug.
Nicholas Crawford appeared instructing Douglas Wilson of Counsel for the Supreme Court sentence. Our client was sentenced to three years’ probation for possessing dangerous drugs and five years’ imprisonment which was wholly suspended for a period of five years for trafficking in dangerous drugs.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.
by Nicholas CrawfordCourt of Appeal – Client granted immediate parole
In March 2018, our client entered a plea of guilty to one count entering a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence, threatening actual violence, armed with a dangerous weapon and in company
Prior to her sentence, our client gave considerable assistance to authorities by acting as a human source and giving an undertaking against her co-accused. Despite her extensive co-operation with authorities, the Presiding Judge sentenced her to 20 months imprisonment and ordered to be released on parole after serving approximately 4.5 months.
Our office subsequently sought leave to appeal the sentence to the Queensland Court of Appeal on the grounds that her sentence was manifestly excessive.
Nick Crawford of our office appeared instructing Douglas Wilson of Counsel before the Court of Appeal to apply to set aside the original sentence. This application was accepted and our client was granted immediate Court Ordered Parole with bail conditions.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordTrafficking of Methylamphetamine – Client is Sentenced to Probation
Operation Lima Garnish commenced in April of 2013 and targeted persons involved in the trafficking of dangerous drugs in Australia. Stored Communications, Telephone Intercepts and Surveillance methods were used throughout the operation.
As a result of this investigation, our client was charged with the serious offence of Trafficking in Dangerous Drugs, namely methylamphetamine and cannabis for an extensive period.
Trafficking in dangerous drugs carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
The matter was listed for a Committal Hearing. Following lengthy negotiations with the Director of Public Prosecutions, the initial Trafficking Charge of Cannabis and Methylamphetamine was substituted with (7) Counts of Supply of Cannabis.
The offence of supplying the dangerous drug, cannabis carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.
Our client was sentenced to 12 months probation with no conviction recorded.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call either Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467 or Alan Phillips on 3009 8469.
by Nicholas CrawfordTrafficking in Cannabis substituted with 5 Counts of Supply
Operation North Goldensilk was established in 2015 to investigate drug related activities. Telecommunications interception service warrants were utilised throughout the operation. As a result of intercepted communications and surveillance our client was charged with the serious charge of trafficking in the dangerous drug cannabis for a 4-month period.
Trafficking in dangerous drugs at the time of the offence carried a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
Following an extensive review of the brief of evidence, our office sent a submission to the Crown to substitute the trafficking charge with five counts of supplying dangerous drugs. The Crown accepted this submission and discontinued the trafficking charge in lieu of the five supply charges.
Counsel instructed by our office appeared with our client before the Brisbane District Court earlier this year for his sentence. The Presiding Judge sentenced our client to 12 months imprisonment for each supply count to be served concurrently. These terms of imprisonment were suspended for a period of eighteen months. This was an excellent result for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordClient Acquitted of Sexual Assault following District Court Trial
In October 2017 our client was charged with the alleged Sexual Assault of a female patron in a Cairns Nightclub. In Queensland, a charge of Sexual Assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Nick Crawford conducted a thorough review of the Brief of Evidence provided by Police including CCTV footage of the alleged offence.
Due to the lack of evidence in the brief of evidence and our client’s denial of the charge, the matter set down in the Cairns District Court in November for a jury trial.
After hearing the evidence and submissions by Scott Lynch of Counsel, the Jury found our client not guilty after a 40-minute deliberation. An acquittal was the best possible outcome for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Juliet Mission – Trafficking period reduced from six (6) months to six (6) weeks.
Client found in possession of four (4) million dollars in Australian currency, numerous kilograms of schedule one (1) dangerous drugs and firearms.
In October 2012, our client was intercepted riding a Harley Davidson motor cycle in Brisbane. After a short police pursuit he was arrested and searched; police found documentation relating to a warehouse storage shed on his person.
Search warrants were later executed at a warehouse located in West End and our client’s residence resulting in 4.1 million dollars of cash, 2.1 kilograms of cocaine, 2.8 kilograms of methylamphetamine, 90 grams of heroin and 240 MDMA tablets being located and seized. Our client was charged with possession of dangerous drugs and trafficking in dangerous drugs as well as other offences under the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld) and Weapons Act 1990 (Qld).
Nick Crawford of our office represented our client and reviewed the brief of evidence thoroughly, and later completed a detailed written submission in respect of the six (6) month trafficking period alleged by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The submission was accepted resulting in the trafficking period being reduced from six (6) months to six (6) weeks.
The matter was further complicated by the fact that our client was on parole for trafficking in schedule one (1) dangerous drugs at the time of these offences. Mr Douglas Wilson of Counsel and Mr Glen Rice QC were briefed to appear on behalf of our client at his sentence before the Brisbane Supreme Court. He was sentenced to eleven (11) years imprisonment, to be released after serving eight (8) years.
This was considered an excellent result considering the circumstances of our client’s previous criminal history, the significant head sentences submitted by the Crown Prosecutor and the substantial amount of money and dangerous drugs located during the police investigation.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call either Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467/0410 413 107 or Alan Phillips on 3009 8469/0403 846 238
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/crime-and-justice/traffic-stop-ends-with-11year-jail-sentence-over-drugs-money-stash/news-story/01a83c9af374fdb6091b454589297854