An Essendon man has been jailed for almost four years for his involvement in cannabis growing operations across three Brimbank properties.
A sentencing hearing in the County Court last month heard a police raid on December 17, 2013, found 92 cannabis plants in total growing at two Sunshine North units in Mansfield Avenue and 10 plants in Bryson Court in Sydenham.
Co-owners of the Sydenham property, 47-year-old Essendon man Romano Domonic Falzon and 55-year-old Charlie Gusman, of Williamstown, were arrested the same day.
The men bought the property in early 2013. It had been under police surveillance since September that year.
A jury found Falzon guilty of cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis at the Sunshine North units and guilty of trafficking cannabis at the Sydenham property.
The court heard testimony from family members and friends that Falzon was regarded as a “hard working, generous family man” and that they were “shocked and dumbfounded” he was involved in a drug operation.
Justice Richard Smith said Falzon had shown little remorse.
“I am unable to conclude that you have shown any significant remorse for your offending conduct,” Justice Smith said.
Co-accused Gusman was placed on a three-year community corrections order at a separate sentencing hearing in the County Court, after pleading guilty to one charge of cultivating a narcotic plant at the Sydenham property and his Williamstown home.
More than 275 grams of cannabis and six plants were found at his Williamstown property.
The court heard Gusman told a psychologist he had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. The court was told he also had a long list of drug convictions, dating back to 1990.
He must complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.
