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Byron Shire
July 7, 2026

Three more Nimbin ‘Lane Boys’ sentenced

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The Hemp Embassy's Big Joint  outside the Lismore courthouse.
The Hemp Embassy’s Big Joint outside the Lismore courthouse.

Three more of the Nimbin ‘Lane Boys’ who were part of 31 men arrested by Strike Force Cuppa last June have been sentenced – one to jail, and the other two received  suspended jail terms.

Rye Lewis Levy, Joseph Walkenshaw Hunter and Jake Dillon Carl Stanton had their matters adjourned at Lismore Local Court on July 27, when many of their co-accused were sentenced.

Levy had pleaded guilty to taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug.

Magistrate R Denes indicated Levy would be sentenced to seven months in jail but requested Levy be assessed for home detention, with the court making a final ruling on September 25.

The men were caught as a result of video surveillance that was conducted on Nimbin’s Rainbow Lane between January 31 and June 28, the day the arrests were made.

Once the men were charged, court documents revealed police applied for a Supreme Court Warrant to covertly film the activities in the lane.

Mr Hunter was charged with dealing with suspected proceeds of crime and knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug.

When he was arrested, police found he was carrying $1150 in cash.

Surveillance showed Mr Hunter was involved in the supply of cannabis between March 31 and April 14.

He pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug and breaching a good behaviour bond.

Magistrate R Denes ordered Mr Hunter to serve a seven month suspended jail sentence.

Facing the same charges, Mr Stanton was found with $2265 when he was arrested on June 28, 2016.

Police said Mr Stanton was involved in the supply of cannabis in Rainbow Lane between February 8 and April 18.

Also on a good behaviour bond, Mr Stanton pleaded guilty to knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug.

He was ordered to serve a nine month suspended jail sentence and was placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond by Magistrate Denes.

Six remaining men are still awaiting sentencing over their role in the supply of cannabis in Nimbin’s Rainbow Lane.

They are all scheduled to hear their fate on August 31 in Lismore Local Court.



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