High-ranking Mongrel Mob bikie Cory-Lee Triscari admits to extortion plot, fiance Bonnie Ellis to face trial

The Bunbury couple at the centre of an alleged extortion plot that led to a wheelchair-using man flee WA fearing for his safety, have entered contrasting pleas in court.

Cory-Lee Carmello Triscari, 30, and Bonnie Marie Ellis, 35, appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, each facing allegations of demanding $5000 from a wheelchair-using man after they allegedly accused the man of sexually assaulting Ms Ellis.

Triscari threatened the man with a knife while making the threats.

While Triscari, a high-ranking member of the Mongrel Mob outlaw bikie gang, admitted to the shake-down during a committal mention hearing by pleading guilty, Ms Ellis declared she intended to fight the allegations, pleading not guilty.

It is alleged Triscari, Ms Ellis and another man, Matthew Douglas Cook, were involved in the alleged extortion plot.

Ms Ellis allegedly contacted the victim, who was known to her, at 9pm on February 22, inviting him over for a few drinks.

When he arrived at the Bunbury property he was allegedly carried in by two men, believed to be associates of Ms Ellis and Triscari, who was wearing a Mongrel Mob vest.

The couple allegedly accused him of sexually assaulting Ms Ellis on a previous occasion and demanded he pay them $5000.

Triscari then allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened the man, who immediately feared for his safety.

He and Ms Ellis allegedly gave the man a week to pay them $5000 before allowing him to leave.

Police say the man told them he also received threatening text messages from Triscari, demanding he pay up or “suffer the consequences” and that they would be able to track him down.

After the victim identified both Triscari and Ms Ellis from photos shown to him by police, gang crime squad officers executed a search warrant at the couple’s home.

Police seized mobile phones, the Mongrel Mob vest and several guns and other weapons, including the knife Triscari allegedly used to threaten the man.

Police say Mr Cook also made a threat to sexually assault the man, which Mr Cook denies and is due to face a Magistrate’s Court trial in November.

Both Triscari and Ms Ellis were committed to the District Court in November for a sentence mention hearing and a trial listing hearing respectively.

Triscari also admitted to possessing a .270 rifle and three rounds of ammunition without a firearms licence, with those charges adjourned to a later date for a mention.

Both Triscari and Ms Ellis were released on bail.