A motortruck operator who was caught with the largest heap of amerciable currency successful Australian past has been sentenced to 3 years and 3 months successful jail, admitting it was 'the worst determination of my life'.
Nathan Ferguson, 54, appeared successful WA District Court connected Tuesday connected charges of receiving, possessing, concealing, disposing oregon dealing with wealth believed to beryllium the proceeds of crime.
He was arrested by Western Australia constabulary successful November 2020 successful Coolgardie, 550km eastbound of Perth, successful a truck that was carrying much than $13million.
More than fractional the wealth was hidden successful a h2o vessel portion the remainder was successful a cardboard container concealed successful the partition of the vehicle, the West Australian reported.
Ferguson was released from custody soon aft being arrested, but was past extradited from NSW backmost to WA successful October 2022 charged with couriering $6,059,181.
Ferguson received a somewhat reduced condemnation due to the fact that the prosecution could not beryllium helium had immoderate relation successful loading the currency oregon that helium knew the larger sum was successful the h2o tank.
Truck operator Nathan Ferguson (pictured right), who was caught with the largest ever heap of amerciable currency successful Australian history, was sentenced connected Tuesday
Ferguson was arrested by Western Australia constabulary successful November 2020 successful Coolgardie, 550km eastbound of Perth, successful a motortruck that was carrying much than $13million (some of the wealth is pictured)
The tribunal heard that Ferguson suffered a bid of losses, including the demolition of his location successful a bushfire and the decease of a person successful an concern accident.
These were fixed arsenic reasons down the downward spiral that led to him transporting millions of dollars crossed the state for a an organised transgression gang.
Ferguson was owed to beryllium paid $50,000 for moving the millions of dollars, a interest Judge Mark Ritter said was of 'some significance' and showed a 'degree of trust' placed successful him by the criminals who hired him.
'It is besides indicative that you were aware, to immoderate extent, of the transgression endeavor involved.'
The justice took Ferguson's blameworthy plea, remorse, isolation his family, intelligence wellness issues and attempts to rehabilitate himself into relationship successful sentencing him.
Judge Ritter besides accepted the truckie had told a scientist the reasons helium got progressive successful the transgression endeavor and that in a missive to the tribunal helium apologised for what helium did, saying it was the 'worst determination helium had ever made'.
Losing his location successful a bushfire has near Ferguson successful fiscal occupation and besides led to his estrangement from his daughter, who blamed him for not paying the security premium connected the house.
The tribunal besides heard the motortruck operator suffers from depression, anxiousness and post-traumatic accent upset and had abused drugs successful the past.
Police officers are seen lasting down a array holding millions of dollars that were seized from a truck
Ferguson said successful his missive of apology that it wounded him to beryllium distant from his aged parent who helium had not seen since helium arrest.
He said helium was 'embarrassed and ashamed' by his actions and that helium was lonely successful jailhouse due to the fact that helium was not capable to spot his partner, household and friends, who are each successful the eastbound states.
But the justice recovered determination was not thing exceptional successful Ferguson's circumstances and that a suspended condemnation was not appropriate.
Ferguson is eligible for parole aft serving fractional of his term, which was backdated to his apprehension successful October 2022, meaning helium could beryllium escaped adjacent month.
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