Ronald Ernest Parr

Convictions

Ronald Ernest Parr was convicted of extortion attempt.

Parr, the former state boss of the Comancheros bikie gang and eight of his underlings were involved in an extortion racket they boasted helped them "run this city".

Parr was convicted of the extortion attempt against a karaoke bar in Northbridge which ran for more than a year - and included the bar being firebombed in March 2014 when it was full of customers.

And in sentencing, Judge Simon Stone said it was clear the bikie gang was extorting money from many other businesses in the area - describing the group as "parasites".

"People in this state are industrious and hard working - there is no need for you and the others to bleed them," Judge Stone said.

Nine other men - Van Hung Phan, Ronald Keith Cross, Selcuk Kilinc, Leslie Jade Grantham, Hua Hang, Wade Robert Hopes, Brenta Tran, Travis Ugle and Michael Xanthoudakis - had earlier pleaded guilty to varying roles in the plot.

Phan, known as "Baby Hung", led the largely Asian contingent which allied themselves with the Comancheros, describing themselves as a "franchise" within the bikie gang.

Kilinc, another of Phan's contingent, was also convicted of throwing the diesel-filled bottle into the club in the early hours of 9 March 2014.

Kilinc was sentenced to eight and a half years.

Grantham, a former sergeant-at-arms in the club was jailed for two years, former club secretary Hopes five years, nominee Cross five years and former patched member Xanthoudakis 14 months, suspended for two years. Ugle, another full member, had previously been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Tran and Hang also received suspended prison terms.

The bar owners were initially told they would have to pay $10,000 a week from a Northbridge karaoke bar until covert operative “Danny” posed as the owner and held several meetings with them, which led to their arrest.

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Kilinc’s lawyer Anthony Eyers described his client as a “foot soldier”, but Judge Simon Stone said Kilinc had negotiating power and played a significant role.

He similarly rejected a claim from Simon Watters that Hopes was “a mere foot soldier”.

Watters admitted Hopes was an “enforcer” with his presence and words, but said the extortion was already afoot when his participation began.

Phan’s lawyer Henry Sklarz said his client had learned his lesson, but Judge Stone said Phan was a facilitator and leader of the Asian gang, and therefore a major player

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said Phan had also proudly portrayed himself as a gangster.

Terry Dobson, representing Cross, said his client had been a friend of Hopes since their teenage years and was introduced to the Comancheros after joining a gym, which also acted as the clubhouse.

Dobson said the camaraderie had appealed to Cross, but he was no longer a Comancheros nominee.

Grantham’s lawyer Helen Prince said he had an intimidation role but was less culpable than others, which Judge Stone accepted.

The court heard Hang, Tran and Xanthoudakis were also less culpable.

Barbagallo said the victim now lived in fear of the ramifications of coming forward.

“No one wants to be the one to dob in the bikies,” she said

Barbagallo said the offenders showed a callous disregard for the victim.

“Their sense of entitlement was entirely unfounded and entirely unreasonable,” she said.

Parr was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 7 1/2 years. 

Ronald Ernest Parr was convicted of extortion attempt.

Parr, the former state boss of the Comancheros bikie gang and eight of his underlings were involved in an extortion racket they boasted helped them "run this city".

Parr was convicted of the extortion attempt against a karaoke bar in Northbridge which ran for more than a year - and included the bar being firebombed in March 2014 when it was full of customers.

And in sentencing, Judge Simon Stone said it was clear the bikie gang was extorting money from many other businesses in the area - describing the group as "parasites".

"People in this state are industrious and hard working - there is no need for you and the others to bleed them," Judge Stone said.

Nine other men - Van Hung Phan, Ronald Keith Cross, Selcuk Kilinc, Leslie Jade Grantham, Hua Hang, Wade Robert Hopes, Brenta Tran, Travis Ugle and Michael Xanthoudakis - had earlier pleaded guilty to varying roles in the plot.

Phan, known as "Baby Hung", led the largely Asian contingent which allied themselves with the Comancheros, describing themselves as a "franchise" within the bikie gang.

Kilinc, another of Phan's contingent, was also convicted of throwing the diesel-filled bottle into the club in the early hours of 9 March 2014.

Kilinc was sentenced to eight and a half years.

Grantham, a former sergeant-at-arms in the club was jailed for two years, former club secretary Hopes five years, nominee Cross five years and former patched member Xanthoudakis 14 months, suspended for two years. Ugle, another full member, had previously been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Tran and Hang also received suspended prison terms.

The bar owners were initially told they would have to pay $10,000 a week from a Northbridge karaoke bar until covert operative “Danny” posed as the owner and held several meetings with them, which led to their arrest.

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Kilinc’s lawyer Anthony Eyers described his client as a “foot soldier”, but Judge Simon Stone said Kilinc had negotiating power and played a significant role.

He similarly rejected a claim from Simon Watters that Hopes was “a mere foot soldier”.

Watters admitted Hopes was an “enforcer” with his presence and words, but said the extortion was already afoot when his participation began.

Phan’s lawyer Henry Sklarz said his client had learned his lesson, but Judge Stone said Phan was a facilitator and leader of the Asian gang, and therefore a major player

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said Phan had also proudly portrayed himself as a gangster.

Terry Dobson, representing Cross, said his client had been a friend of Hopes since their teenage years and was introduced to the Comancheros after joining a gym, which also acted as the clubhouse.

Dobson said the camaraderie had appealed to Cross, but he was no longer a Comancheros nominee.

Grantham’s lawyer Helen Prince said he had an intimidation role but was less culpable than others, which Judge Stone accepted.

The court heard Hang, Tran and Xanthoudakis were also less culpable.

Barbagallo said the victim now lived in fear of the ramifications of coming forward.

“No one wants to be the one to dob in the bikies,” she said

Barbagallo said the offenders showed a callous disregard for the victim.

“Their sense of entitlement was entirely unfounded and entirely unreasonable,” she said.

Parr was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 7 1/2 years.