Australasian Biker News
Rocky drug boss jailed for 14 years
May 29, 2008
THREE days after his mate, Mick Miller, killed himself rather than face
prison, Rockhampton bikie James Thomas O'Brien was jailed for 14 years
yesterday for drug trafficking. Police said yesterday O'Brien, a Rebels
Motorcycle Club life member, based himself in his Quay Street,
Rockhampton home, while he drove across Australia sourcing and
delivering dangerous street drugs and ingredients. Detective Sergeant
Shane Stirling, who was based in Rockhampton during the early stages of
the six-year operation, yesterday said this was a significant coup in
the fight against organised crime networks, including outlaw motorcycle
gangs, in Queensland.
"There are now proven allegations he would drive to South Australia to deliver large amounts of methamphetamine, it's also proven he sourced substances such as pseudoephedrine from a known bikie member in New South Wales," Detective Sergeant Stirling said. "It's significant. The amounts of drugs spoken about are some of the largest I've ever heard of, let alone seen." O'Brien's road trips alone linked Rockhampton to the rest of the country from 1997 until 2003, he said. "Certainly, the evidence we gave was that James O'Brien was the link back to interstate. "We certainly didn't identify any other member from that chapter with the interstate links that James O'Brien had."
Detective Sergeant Stirling said police infiltrated the production and distribution web using testimony from indemnified witnesses and the resources of the Australian Crime Commission. "I'd like to think that this result shows the resolve of the Queensland Police Service to disrupt and dismantle crime networks of this nature," Detective Sergeant Stirling said. The chase began 2002 with police operation Alpha Mayflower a crackdown on the illegal production and trafficking of dangerous drugs. Arrested in May 2004, O'Brien was committed for trial in 2005; his trial lasted for 15 days. Yesterday, a Supreme Court jury found him guilty of one count of trafficking methamphetamines and cannabis and seven counts of producing methamphetamines.
O'Brien had lived in a Rockhampton house owned by his sister, Rockhampton Regional Council's popular Deputy Mayor Rose Swadling. "What can I say, other than he is my brother?" Councillor Swadling said late yesterday after learning of his sentence. "This sentence is very upsetting. It's an extremely difficult situation for my family to deal with but Jimmy has been found guilty of the serious crimes he was accused of. I love him and I'll always stand by him but I can't answer for his actions. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." O'Brien's classification as a Serious Violent Offender means he will serve at least 80% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. After running from the law for over two years, the chase ended for fellow Rebel Miller on Sunday, when police discovered him in an unmarked boat near 1770 marina. Miller produced a gun and threatened police before taking his own life.