A WANGARATTA man involved in an extensive ice syndicate in the city is facing time behind bars.
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David Graham Rose, 31, will be sentenced in early February for ice trafficking, Xanax possession, theft and dealing with property thought to be the proceeds of crime.
He was considered by police to be a middle range drug offender which was aggravated by the fact he dealt in firearms and stolen property.
Rose was paying up to $850 a week to fund his ice habit and ran up debts with other dealers to score drugs.
He often met syndicate leader Jessica Fogarty, described as the queen of the city’s ice scene, at businesses including Apco and Bunnings to make deals.
Rose had messaged Fogarty last July and offered her a shotgun that an associate in Shepparton had.
The Wangaratta region experienced sharp rise in firearm related burglaries at rural properties in late 2013 and early 2014.
The syndicate came crashing down in September last year as police conducted multiple raids and arrested dozens of people connected to the group.
Some of those arrested were found with the stolen guns.
Rose was in custody for 94 days between September and December 2014 before being granted bail.
He had downplayed his involvement in the syndicate and said he only sold small amounts to support his own drug habit.
Police had intercepted phone calls and text messages between him and other members detailing drug deals, weights, and cash over several months last year.
