THE drugs were fake, but the crime was real when Wagga man Geoffrey William Kennedy sold capsules to undercover police, claiming they contained ecstasy when the contents was really powdered paracetamol.
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Kennedy in Wagga Local Court this week pleaded guilty to the ongoing supply of a prohibited drug.
Two of the transactions with the undercover operatives were conducted in the “immediate vicinity” of a child.
According to agreed facts tendered to the court, Kennedy was busted by police attached to Strike Force Calyx, a special operation to crack down on illicit drug supply in Wagga.
Kennedy, 35, was “introduced” to a male undercover operative on March 19 and took the officer to his Ashmont home.
Kennedy handed over 10 capsules in a clear resealable bag for $200, claiming they contained MDMA (ecstasy).
But when the white powder inside the capsules was later analysed by the Forensic and Analytical Science Service it was found not to be a prohibited drug.
In a conversation recorded by police during the deal, Kennedy told the operative he could get him “whatever you want”.
The next day, Kennedy sold an operative 31 capsules for $300, and again the white powder inside was not a prohibited drug.
On April 1, Kennedy sold 30 capsules for $300.
On April 9, the operative received a text message from Kennedy: “Got new pills. Do you 50 pills 4 $450 just for today”.
After the operative replied, Kennedy sent another text: “mda caps the bomb brother all new”.
At 10.21am, Kennedy handed over 55 capsules in a green fabric pouch for $450.
“During the transaction, the undercover officer asked the accused what was inside the capsules,” the agreed facts said.
“The accused stated ‘just that MDMA bra’.”
Kennedy was arrested at his home on June 17 and explained the white powder in the capsules.
“The accused said he was introduced to one of the males (undercover operative) through an associate who advised the accused to rip the males off as they came from out of town,” the facts said.
“The accused stated that he went to a chemist and bought empty capsules, which he then filled with powdered paracetamol.
“The accused admitted to selling these capsules to a number of people purporting the capsules to be MDMA in order to make money.”
Kennedy has been in custody since his arrest.
His case is listed for sentence during the February sittings of Wagga District Court.
Magistrate Erin Kennedy has ordered a pre-sentence report to help the judge frame a sentence.
