Glamorous Gold Coast influencer Kate Szepanowski’s boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan jailed for 11 years for attempting to aid in ‘greedy’ cocaine smuggling plot
Glamorous influencer Kate Szepanowski parted ways with her boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan last Thursday after he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for trying to aid a “greedy” cocaine smuggling plot.
The 29-year-old mother of two attended the Brisbane Supreme Court as Brennan was sentenced to just over ten years with a non-parole period of five and a half years after he and his friend Brendan John Sipple was found guilty of attempted possession of a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs.
A jury returned guilty verdicts for both men on May 31, after deliberating for more than six hours following a brief trial.
The two friends were hired to find 48kg of high-purity cocaine hidden in a shipping container.
Brennan and Sipple, 30, entered a cargo yard at the Port of Brisbane at 4.10am on June 12, 2020, after spotting a particular shipping container during their previous surveillance runs.
Judge Michael Copley said one or both men opened the panels of the container’s refrigeration unit expecting to find a significant quantity of cocaine.
“Your involvement in this crime was due to giving in to the temptation of greed,” Judge Copley said as he passed sentence.
Glamorous influencer Kate Szepanowski, 29, (left) said goodbye to boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan, also 29, (right) last Thursday after he was sentenced to 11 years in prison
The cocaine had been removed by police four months earlier after workers at a port in Belgium found 42 rectangular packages hidden in the container.
Police had tracked the men with listening and GPS equipment as they drove a van from their homes on the Gold Coast to the Port of Brisbane several times in June 2020.
The jury heard audio from the van in which the men discussed a large payment and plans to bury the cocaine in remote bushland.
The mother-of-two went to the Brisbane Supreme Court to see her boyfriend sentenced to just over ten years with a non-parole period of five and a half years
The audio also recorded the men celebrating when they found the container by listening to the songs “Circles” by Post Malone and “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.
Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilson said the men were determined to play a key role in the illegal drugs chain and had shown no remorse.
“It is clear that they were doing something for a substantial financial reward in return for their involvement… they clearly knew that the drugs would be commercially exploited by others,” Wilson said.
Attorney Josh Underwood said Sipple overcame a difficult childhood to start a company that supplies subcontractors to the construction industry.
Brennan and Brendan John Sipple, who were hired to find 48kg of high-purity cocaine hidden in a shipping container, have been jailed for their ‘greed’
Brennan and Sipple, 30, (pictured) were convicted in the Brisbane Supreme Court last week on one count each of attempted possession of a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs
“He is honest and hardworking… and this offense was out of character for him,” Mr Underwood said.
Defense attorney Mitchell Rawlings said Brennan had a lot of motivation to rehabilitate himself and had started a courier company.
“He had sporadic but concerning contact with the authorities during his early life, but that has now calmed down,” Mr Rawlings said.
Judge Copley said he had to impose a sentence that would deter the defendants and others from attempting to make ‘easy money’ from serious drug offences.
Brennan waved and blew kisses to partner Szepanowski, his family and supporters in court as he was taken back into custody
“Neither of you raised any concerns about the effects this cocaine would have on the individual or the community,” Judge Copley said.
Sipple was sentenced to twelve years in prison with a non-parole period of six and a half years.
Brennan was sentenced to eleven years in prison with a non-parole period of five and a half years because he had served two years in custody.
He waved and blew kisses to partner Szepanowski, his family and supporters in court as he was taken back into custody.
Szepanowski was spotted a few weeks ago attending court to support him as she applied lip gloss, completely transforming her look from blonde to brunette
Szepanowski is the sister of fellow influencer Chloe Szepanowski, who is in turn a member of the Orval family through her relationship with YouTuber Mitch Orval.
Despite making a living as an influencer, the Gold Coast-based beauty has taken an extended break from social media while boyfriend Brennan faced drug charges.
She was spotted attending court a few weeks ago to support him as she applied lip gloss, completely transforming her look from blonde to brunette.
Ny Breaking Australia has reached out to Szepanowski for comment.