American woman caught smuggling a 24-karat golden gun into Australia reveals her surprising career move – as she prepares to learn her fate

An American woman facing punishment after trying to smuggle a 24-carat gold-plated pistol worth $2,000 into Australia is working on a music album, a court has been told.

Liliana Goodson, 29, appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Friday after pleading guilty to two charges of importing prohibited goods with intent, namely the firearm and ammunition.

Goodson had initially fought the charges at a special hearing, told she had come to Australia to “go to clown school” and Googled that it was “OK” to take the gun with her.

The Floridian did not list the gun on her arrival card, with Australian Border Force officers discovering the Colt-45 style pistol in her luggage when it went through the X-ray machine.

During the hearing, Ms Goodson’s lawyer said she had been relying on synthetic cannabis to self-medicate for past trauma, and it was in that state of mind that she decided to pack the gun.

“She puts the gun in the case while there is a state of paranoia in her mind; abandoning her animals (dogs), abandoning herself,” her lawyer told the court.

“She says she came to Australia because she thought it was a safe place, but she also packed the gun for her own safety and to protect herself… even though the bullets were for a different gun.”

Since coming clean, her lawyer added: “She is working on an album and has produced twelve songs. It’s that creative side that comes out now that she no longer uses synthetic cannabis.’

The police prosecutor agreed that “trauma supported Goodson’s need to feel protected” but disputed claims she made to the ABF that she had forgotten the gun was in her luggage.

During an interview, Goodson later admitted that she intended to store the gun under the seat of her car, as she had done in the US and had cooperated with police during their investigation.

The case was scheduled to be heard Friday but was beleaguered after Goodson’s attorney requested a delay so his client could take a drug test to prove her sobriety.

The American-Peruvian has been stranded in Australia since the charges were filed in April 2023, repeatedly telling the court she had slept poorly, including on the train.

A video was played during the special hearing earlier this year of her first interview with police.

When asked about the gun, Goodson said it was “not in the back of my mind at all.”

“I had very little life experience … so a lot of things that are common sense to some people are not common sense to me,” she said

“It just slipped my mind that something could happen.”

Australian Border Force officers discovered the Colt-45 style pistol (pictured) in her luggage

Goodson claimed to have little knowledge of Australian gun laws, but believed she would be able to apply for a firearms license once she got here, saying she had it for self-defence.

“I’ll be honest, I’m scared to shoot it (the gun), but if you’re just waving a gun in LA, people are going to enjoy falling apart,” she said.

“I’d probably just hit a gun until I got training again.”

Goodson said when she was arrested ‘it was a stupid mistake and there was no intention to cause harm’ and previously admitted she had a ‘cat spine, squirrel paws and rabbit pee’ in her bag.

She will return to court next month for sentencing.