Benjamin Bernhardt: Hells Angels bikie’s lawyer claims he will leave OMCG lifestyle as he’s jailed

The former WA president of the Hells Angels announced he plans to cut ties with the bikie gang to focus on his family before being jailed over cocaine and property laundering offences. Benjamin Bernhardt, 54, was sentenced to four years and eight months jail on Thursday after a major police operation uncovered encrypted messages discussing cocaine and cash amounts of $110,000 in late 2024. Unknown to the then-president of the gang was that undercover operatives were closely watching when an unknown man retrieved cash linked to the sale of cocaine from an arranged pick-up point — a car wash in Naval Base — on August 27. Using the nickname ‘inspector’, Bernhardt told the unknown person, nicknamed ‘coyote’, to collect the cash from a car driven by his son. Later that evening, message exchanges on encrypted application Threema confirmed a cash amount just under $110,000 had been collected. It wasn’t until September 17, 2024, that gang crime officers pounced on Bernhardt, in the form of a traffic stop. He was driving his son’s 2011 Mercedes G wagon when officers found a clip-seal bag containing 55.7g cocaine stashed inside a sock underneath a car seat. Police also found two envelopes of cash — packed with $10,000 and $9950 respectively — and an encrypted phone containing messages regarding the $110,000 cash and checklists on the Ghost application, which dated his involvement in the commercial sale of drugs back to March 2024. A subsequent search of his Piara Waters home led police to a further $8000 cash in two safes. A small amount of steroids was also found at the home, which a magistrate previously fined him for. On Thursday, in the Perth District Court, Bernhardt pleaded guilty to three offences before he was sentenced by Judge Alan Sefton. Bernhardt’s lawyer Mark Andrews said his client had relinquished his position as State president of the Hells Angels and that he intended to step away from the bikie lifestyle completely as he stared down inevitable jail time. “He’s just over it, he’s just too old for that caper,” Mr Andrews said. “He’s developed a greater appreciation to focus on his family.” But Judge Sefton was quick to point out that Bernhardt had yet to hand in his patch. Mr Andrews rebutted, stating that he’d “made the decision” but that it just needed to be “formalised”. “There won’t be any form of retribution in doing so,” Mr Andrews said. “He’s not a man without hope, (he has) an excellent prospect of rehabilitation, assuming he turns his back on his former associations.” Mr Andrews said that Bernhardt’s personal use of cocaine escalated in 2024 as his daughter’s health worsened and amid pressures as club president. He added that he cared for his eldest daughter and partner, who both suffered from serious health issues and who had arrangements through the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Judge Sefton said the fact his daughter would now have to be looked after by his 20-year-old son was a “mitigatory factor of some significance” when handing down a sentence, but that the seriousness of the drug and laundering offences meant it would be given less weight. “Transitioning (her to) support through a young man who’s taking on a significant role, is itself, likely to have some negative impacts on her over the time that you are in custody,” he said. The West Australian previously revealed that Bernhardt was netted as part of the Australian Federal Police’s Operation Kraken, which targeted the secret crime application, Ghost. He was one of 15 WA men charged as part of the operation. Bernhardt’s son — named Benjamin Bernhardt Junior — was present in court when his father was sentenced on Thursday. His father was wearing a sling on his right arm at the sentencing hearing after breaking his arm in a recent quad bike crash. He will be eligible for parole after two years and eight months served.