A messy ‘love square’ has broken out between some of Australia’s most glamorous criminals after the fiancée of a drug-dealing beautician was found hanging out in a pub with one of her law-abiding friends while behind bars.
Lash technician Chloe Victoria Smith, 30, is currently serving eight months in prison after being locked up for her involvement in her ex-partner Reece Luscombe’s major meth trafficking ring, which operated in Queensland between 2019 and 2020.
But after leaving Luscombe while he was in prison, Smith now finds herself in a similar position after her new bad boy, serial offender Wade Amey, 34, dumped her for her good friend and former colleague Caity Phelan, 25.
The drama first unfolded when Smith and Luscombe, 33, were arrested in March 2020 over his ice smuggling network, which was linked to the Finks motorcycle gang and stretched from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
The couple had previously lived an affluent lifestyle in Mackay, Central Queensland, driving around in luxury vehicles and dressing in designer goods.
Chloe Victoria Smith, 30, (pictured) is currently serving an eight-month prison sentence for her role in a major drugs gang linked to the Finks motorcycle gang
Her former partner Reece William Luscombe, 33, (pictured) ran the drug network that supplied meth across Queensland
Smith left Luscombe to begin a whirlwind romance with serial killer Wade Amey (pictured)
Amey has now left Smith to start dating her girlfriend Caity Phelan (pictured), the only one of the four without a criminal record
When Operation Romeo Suitcase detectives stormed their home, officers seized a Maserati, $108,620 in cash, weapons and 185,932 grams of pure meth with a street value of up to $44,000.
Despite Luscombe being taken into custody and Smith being granted bail, the couple initially remained together for several months while their cases were heard by the court.
However, cracks soon began to appear after Smith was arrested for breaching her bail conditions while spending time with Mackay’s self-proclaimed ‘hottest criminal’ Liam Dunworth, 24.
The pair were found together in a locked bedroom during a police raid in April 2021 and charged with possessing ice and cash from drug sales – offenses that would later earn him a prison sentence.
The brief romance fizzled out and Daily Mail Australia understands Smith moved back to Luscombe before the pair split sometime around mid-to-late 2022.
But just a few months after their split, Smith began dating Woodford Correctional Center inmate Wade Richard Amey, who has an extensive criminal record for several crimes, including drug possession, gun possession and assault.
In a since-deleted post, Smith revealed that the pair met in early 2023 while she was trying to set him up with her roommate.
Smith and Luscombe are depicted together in happier times
Smith has a penchant for convicted criminals, as he has dated three different inmates in the past three years
Smith shared the above photo of Amey on her Instagram in July, writing, “I’ve been waiting so long for you to finally come home baby, not long now that we’re together. Love you a lot’
“I tried to get him to talk to her, but she wouldn’t hear of it,” she said.
‘I felt bad and decided to talk to him on the phone because I didn’t want to be rude.’
The relationship progressed quickly, with Smith announcing the couple’s engagement weeks later in February.
Just weeks after, she shared a gushing post with her more than 16,000 TikTok followers, showing her video calling Amey in prison.
“Say what you want but this man is my soulmate and we were made for each other,” she wrote.
“I love you so much and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side.”
Amey, a New Zealander, was released from prison and deported back home late last year, while Smith was sentenced to three years in prison in September over the drug ring, only to be released on parole after serving eight months.
But while Smith stayed by Amey’s side while he was in prison, she hasn’t received the same treatment in return – with Smith’s girlfriend Bella Agius revealing this week that the Kiwi had jumped ship.
On a Facebook page dedicated to finding pen pals for Australian prisoners, Ms Agius said Smith was looking for companionship while serving her term at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.
Smith shared a gushing post about her budding relationship with Wade Richard Amey in March 2023
The former couple announced their engagement on Facebook last February
When a social media user asked what happened to Smith and Amey, Ms Agius replied: ‘A devious ‘friend’ of hers is now with him. That’s why (they’re not together anymore).”
A source familiar with the situation told Daily Mail Australia that Amey had started dating Smith’s girlfriend Caity Phelan, another beautician who has no criminal record, two weeks ago.
The source said Smith had stayed with Amey during his incarceration, taking Phelan into her home and giving her work at her eyelash business when she was going through a rough patch.
But Ms Phelan said there was more to it.
“Chloe has done a lot for me, yes, and I will never deny that because that’s not the type of person I am,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“(But) there’s also a lot that Chloe has done to me that the whole world doesn’t need to know about… and sometimes the bad outweighs the good.
“Wade and I originally spoke from the beginning, so technically no, I didn’t bring Chloe’s partner, he was trying to pursue something with me from the beginning.
“Based on the way things turned out, I have no ill will toward Chloe, but I don’t think I could say the same about her.”
Earlier this week, Smith’s Instagram bio featured Amey’s username next to a black heart emoji.
Curiously, Ms Phelan’s Instagram bio also includes Amey’s username – albeit for a second Instagram account – alongside a heart emoji.
Ms Phelan (pictured) says Amey had wanted her all along, despite his brief romance with Smith
Amey (photo) has an extensive criminal record spanning more than ten years
On Tuesday, Smith’s biography was updated, removing Amey’s username and replacing it with the word “single.”
Smith’s downward spiral into the world of bad boys appears to have begun after she was drawn into Luscombe’s nefarious enterprise.
Luscombe, the father of Smith’s third and youngest child, ran the syndicate and kept drugs and money in his home, while occasionally allowing other members of the ring to facilitate part of the network’s deal.
During his sentencing hearing in March 2022, the court heard Luscombe boasted about the violent and assertive tactics he used while leading the drugs gang.
Among other things, they claimed ownership of the Maserati as repayment for a drug debt and told Smith he had “beat up” a woman who owed him money by taking jewelry and her car.
Luscombe was sentenced to nine years in prison for a range of offenses including human trafficking, aggravated drug possession and possession of cash and weapons.
He was released on parole around October last year.
Caity is pictured with her ex Dayne, who was jailed while the pair were dating
Smith, who facilitated some of the network’s drug deals, pleaded guilty to a dozen charges, including human trafficking, aggravated drug possession, supplying dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs and property derived from drug trafficking.
The mother of three was sentenced to three years in prison in September, but will be released on parole in May 2024 after serving just eight months.
Like Smith, Ms. Phelan also has a penchant for criminals.
In September 2022, the mother-of-two told how her ex-partner Dayne had gone to prison, but despite the 450-mile distance, their relationship had grown stronger.
Just a month later, she shared a video on TikTok expressing her attraction to “heavily tattooed men with criminal pasts.”
Despite initially supporting Dayne, the pair appear to have split sometime in the last twelve months before Ms Phelan was wooed by Amey.
When contacted for comment about his new relationship, Amey didn’t have much to say – just insults and threats to the reporter.
‘How is this? Get a life and find something better to do, you fucking loser,” he said.
‘Stop writing about me or you’ll be the next Daily Mail headline!’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Smith for comment.