Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2004 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Address: P.O. box 409 Ogdensburg NY 13669 Author: Erin Post, The Malone Telegram Note: Best option for printed LTEs, postal mail, signed w/phone# Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n879.a04.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/mohawk+reservation Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/hydroponic+marijuana POT SMUGGLING RING UNCOVERED 10 Arrested By Law Enforcement Agencies MALONE, N. Y. - The investigation of a multi-million dollar marijuana smuggling operation, uncovered by law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border, led to the arrest of 10 people on state and federal charges Thursday morning in an operation that officials said "went like clock-work." A St. Regis Mohawk Reservation business owner who police say used his construction firm as a front for marijuana trafficking, as well as a state police dispatcher who is believed to have supplied confidential information to members of the network, were among those arrested during the 6 a. m. round-up, which also led to the seizure of six vehicles, five assault weapons, tens of thousands of dollars in U.S. and Canadian currency and 60 pounds of marijuana. "This operation went like clockwork today," said New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Lieutenant Patrick Fonda during a press conference Thursday afternoon held in the legislative chambers of the Franklin County Courthouse. During the 14 month long investigation, law enforcement agents saw more than $4 million of high-grade marijuana grown year-round at undisclosed locations in Canada trafficked through the St. Regis Mohawk reservation to points south as far away as Florida, Massachusetts and Syracuse, according to Franklin County district Attorney Derek Champagne. "Intelligence sources estimate other shipments had occurred prior to the investigation and exceeded $10 million," he said. Task force members who searched Mitchell's Construction and Sales, Inc., located at 459 state Route 27 on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation turned up the assault weapons, currency and marijuana, valued at $270,000, Champagne said. The owner of the business and chief executive officer, Lawrence P. Mitchell of Cornwall Island, was one of six individuals subsequently arrested on federal conspiracy charges. Roland Helgerson, a U.S. Treasury special agent with the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division, said financial records and computer data were also seized from the business Thursday, and further investigation may lead to charges against Mitchell including violations of IRS code and money laundering. Described as a "principal target," the business was the subject of electronic and other "state of the art" surveillance during the investigation, including round-the-clock attention in the three months prior to Thursday's arrests. A state police helicopter also recorded video footage of the property as recent as this week. Peter Dunbar of the U.S. Border Patrol said investigators believe the network moved drugs over one primary route across Cornwall Island and the St. Regis River to the Snye area of the St. Regis Mohawk reservation. "The drugs were brought into the U. S. and placed in other land vehicles here and distributed all over the United States," said Bill Hebert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. He said one pound of the hydroponically grown marijuana the network dealt with could rake in anywhere from $2,400 to $4,000. "When you get 60 pounds it may not seem like a really large amount," he said. "But when you're doing this on a weekly basis it has a significant impact not only on the local economy but across the U.S." The investigation also led to the arrest of Jennifer L. Ryther-Niles, 28, of Moira at 8 a.m. Thursday. A dispatcher at state police headquarters in Ray Brook, Niles was charged with official misconduct and fourth-degree conspiracy for allegedly supplying information to her husband, who was also arrested Thursday, regarding state police roadblocks and other facts pertaining to the investigation. After being arrested at the end of her shift on Thursday at the trooper barracks, Niles was arraigned in Malone town Court and committed to Franklin County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail, police said. Others arrested include: Lawrence P. Mitchell, of Cornwall Island, Ont., charged with federal conspiracy. Vincent C. Mitchell, of Hoganburg, charged with federal conspiracy. Scottie J. Niles, of Moira, charged with federal conspiracy. James F. Wilson, of Bangor, charged with federal conspiracy. James L. Robideau, of Brushton, charged with federal conspiracy. Dennis Lazore, of Cornwall Island, Ont., charged with federal conspiracy. Edward R. Noce Sr. of Syracuse, charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony; and Steven C. Dantonello, of Syracuse, charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony. The subjects facing federal charges were arraigned at 5 p.m. Thursday. Champagne credited the success of the operation to the seamless cooperation of the 19 agencies involved. He said the effectiveness of the law enforcement agencies involved will likely lead to more success when it comes to crippling the illegal drug trade in Northern New York. Other agencies involved with the investigation include the U.S. Drug enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Probation Office, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Ontario Provincial Police Canadian Customs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Malone Village Police Department, Saranac Lake Village Police Department, Tupper Lake Village Police Department, Combined Special Enforcement Unit of Cornwall, Ont., the Franklin County District Attorney's office, U. S. Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Cornwall Police and Canadian Department of Justice. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin