Australasian Biker News
Rebel guilty
Aaron Simmonds, the head of the Tamworth chapter of the Rebels
bikie gang, pleaded guilty to three out of six charges against him in
the Tamworth Local Court yesterday.
Simmonds was arrested on June 14 last year and charged with seven
offences relating to supplying illegal drugs, dealing with the proceeds
of crime and participating in a criminal group.
Three charges will be heard at a later date and the seventh has been
withdrawn.
He was taken into custody at a house in Showground Rd, Taminda, a short
time after two other men, also linked to the Rebels, were arrested
during an alleged drug deal in the Southgate Shopping Centre carpark.
Simmonds, whose bail was continued yesterday, is to return to Tamworth
District Court on March 31 for sentencing.
Tamworth Local Court Magistrate Swain also ordered Simmonds to return to
court on February 26 for resentencing following an alleged breach of a
community service order.
The charges against Simmonds were laid as a result of the work of Strike
Force Caddie, a major police operation conducted over a number of months
in the first half of 2007.
Strike Force Caddie targeted the Tamworth chapter of the Rebels
motorcycle club and was orchestrated by the Oxley Police Target Action
Group.
The undercover police operation included surveillance of a house in
Tamworth, phone taps and the use of listening devices.
Five men were arrested as a result of the operation which was a part of
the state-wide Operation Ranmore.
Another member of the group, Gavin John McElroy, of Armidale, also
appeared in the Tamworth Local Court yesterday.
He has been committed to stand trial in the court on February 27 after
pleading not guilty to participation in a criminal group or contribution
to criminal activity, and two counts of supplying an indictable quantity
of a prohibited drug (not cannabis).
The court had earlier been told McElroy was allegedly involved in the
supply of methylamphetamine in Tamworth and MDMA (used to make ecstasy)
in Armidale on June 6.
He was also charged with participating in a criminal group in Tamworth
on that day.
McElroy was granted bail at his last appearance in Armidale Local Court
and bail was continued yesterday on the condition he was “not to have
any contact with any member of the Rebel motorcycle group either locally
or outside of Armidale”.
Magistrate Swain said yesterday she believed the police had compiled
“sufficient evidence to convict”.
http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/rebel-guilty/1177659.html