The mother and brother of underworld crime figure George Marrogi have been handed prison terms after admitting they received proceeds of his alleged crimes.
Jesse Marrogi’s lawyer revealed plans to file an immediate application for appeal bail after the crime boss’ younger brother was sentenced to seven months behind bars for dealing in more than $140,000 in proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Kieran Gilligan ordered Marrogi serve at least four months of that sentence before being released on a good behaviour bond.
His mother Madlin Enwiya was sentenced to three months’ jail, but to be released immediately on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.
Both Marrogi and Enwiya pleaded guilty to dealing in suspected proceeds of crime.
The older Marrogi brother is currently serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking and importation, and it’s alleged by prosecutors he generated proceeds of crime through similar offences.
It was argued George Marrogi, with the assistance of his sister Mesihlin – who died from COVID-19 complications in 2021 – retained the services of a money laundering syndicate to launder funds which were later transferred to his brother and mother.
Enwiya received $77,880 deposited into her personal bank account in 27 transactions described as “salary” between 2021 and 2022.
Jesse Marrogi received more than $140,000 in deposits to a business account he had access to, with transactions marked as “installments” and “services”.
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He was supported in court by his partner Sabrine Maghnie, the daughter of crime figure Nabil Maghnie who was shot dead in an Epping car park in January 2020.
Gilligan said Enwiya had previously gambled on the pokies, but became addicted as a result of traumatic life experiences and her grief over her daughter’s death.
A counselling and addiction specialist reported that she had been receiving treatment, completed a relapse prevention plan and was a low risk of returning to gambling.
Jesse Marrogi withdrew some of the funds he received and transferred it to a SportsBet account, but Gilligan said he had returned more to the account than he took.
But in deciding to sentence Jesse Marrogi to an immediate prison term, he pointed out the amount he had received was almost double that which his mother received.
His lawyer noted Marrogi had no custody management issues, other than his “high profile”.
He hoped an application for bail could be heard later on Wednesday.
