A reality TV star has spent almost two months behind bars after she was charged with being involved in an international drug supply and money-laundering syndicate.
Marjorie Griffiths went from appearing on television in the most recent season of “The Bachelor” to appearing in court after she was arrested for drug supply and money laundering.
The 26-year-old was woken by heavily armed specialist police officers and arrested during a dawn raid on her home in Umina Beach, Australia, on October 26.
She has been charged with supplying 2.2 pounds of cocaine to an undercover police operative on March 7 before supplying 2.2 pounds of MDMA to an unknown person in June.
The cleaning company employee is also accused of knowingly dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars which were the proceeds of a crime.
Police allege she was a major player in a criminal network that supplied large quantities of drugs before laundering the earnings of the illicit drug sales through an international syndicate.
On Wednesday, her lawyer James Lang argued there was no evidence his client knew what she was transporting when she allegedly followed directions to collect bags and boxes.
He claimed there was “no evidence” Griffiths knew who she was meeting with or why on the seven occasions she allegedly supplied drugs or laundered cash.
“(The crown has) surveillance evidence that is consistent with a circumstantial case … that Ms Griffiths has taken packages, either in the form of a box or a bag, that variously contained either a prohibited drug … or cash,” Lang said.
At its highest, he said the police case painted Griffiths as merely “a courier” who was “serving a function of someone who’s of a much higher criminality.”
Crown prosecutor Jade Pearson said the investigation into the criminal syndicate was ongoing, and several key elements of the brief against Griffiths still had to be collected.
Key among them is a statement from an undercover agent, who the court was told received 2.2 pounds of cocaine directly from the reality TV personality on March 7.
Pearson said police were still trying to unlock two phones that were in Griffiths’ possession at the time of her arrest that could also contain useful information.
The 26-year-old has been charged with failing to hand over the PIN code to an electronic device after an order from police.
Pearson acknowledged there wasn’t “sufficient” evidence from phone taps or listening devices to assist the crown in establishing knowledge of Griffith’s alleged offenses.
She also told the court there was no forensic evidence tying the reality TV personality to any of the items seized by police during the raid, including cash and drugs.
“At present, it’s accepted that it’s not the strongest crown case,” the crown prosecutor conceded.
Lang told the court the complexity of the case and the ongoing nature of the investigation meant Griffiths could be waiting in custody on remand for a longer period than she would serve if convicted.
“It’s not a simple matter that will be over quickly,” he said, noting it was agreed the matter would still be in court in 2025.
Justice Julia Lonergan agreed there would “inevitably” be a delay of at least 18 months in prosecuting the case due to the “ongoing” nature of the widespread investigation.
“I accept the crown case is not yet strong and had a gap in it in the form of an absence of anything that would persuasively show the applicant knew what she was transporting,” she said.
Justice Lonergan granted Griffith’s bail with numerous strict bail conditions including electronic monitoring, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, and a strict curfew.
She is also forbidden from possessing an internet capable device and must have only one phone in her possession at any time.
The former “Bachelor” contestant wore a green prison T-shirt and shorts and an anxious expression throughout the hour-long bail hearing.
Her furrowed brow didn’t abate when she was told she would be released into the custody of her parents.
The blonde beauty was paired with Thomas Malucelli, a 35-year-old restaurant manager, on the 10th season of the hit reality TV series, “The Bachelor.” She left the show after 12 weeks.
Her friend, Molly Rosewarn, was also arrested during the raid on Griffiths’ house.
She was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and supplying more than an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.
Their close relationship has been splashed on social media, with Griffiths sharing numerous photos and videos of her cuddling Rosewarn, whom she called “my baby girl.”
The best friends and former housemates will be prohibited from contacting each other under the conditions of Griffiths’ bail.
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