A Cringila electrician who attempted to settle his underworld gambling debts by dealing cocaine at a local pub has been described in court as no criminal mastermind. Tristan Veimau Lufe, 28, pleaded guilty in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday to supplying a prohibited drug, dealing with proceeds of crime, and possessing a prohibited drug.
On New Year's Eve at 11:07 pm, police observed Lufe standing on the corner opposite the Illawarra Hotel, checking his phone and looking around as if waiting for someone. Shortly after, a man approached from Market Street, shook hands with Lufe, and exchanged a brief conversation before walking away with a small item in his hand. Lufe then entered the pub while police intercepted the other man, who was found with a bag of off-white cocaine and admitted obtaining it from Lufe.
Police entered the Illawarra Hotel, located Lufe at the rear bar, and escorted him outside. When informed he had been seen with the man and would be searched, Lufe claimed, "He's a friend, he owed me $200." Officers discovered $2320 loose in one pocket, which Lufe said came from his work as an electrician that day. In his other pocket, a vape device was found, and upon removing its bottom, police uncovered eight bags of cocaine totaling 6.52 grams. Lufe was arrested as he attempted to explain the drugs were "just for me and the boys."
In court, defense lawyer Patrick Schmidt highlighted Lufe's struggle with gambling debt while living in Sydney. After his parents bailed him out once, Lufe borrowed money from "people he shouldn't have, of the underworld variety" to escape debt. Schmidt described the dealing as "amateur hour" and his client as "no criminal mastermind," emphasizing the desperate situation. Judge Dr. Gabriel Fleming noted that Lufe had "started big" with his first criminal record entry and warned that trying to escape a hole by putting others into it is both immoral and illegal. Lufe was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order, with his mother present in the gallery.
