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10 FACE PROSECUTION IN MARIJUANA CASE

A federal judge has declared the prosecution of 10 people charged with running an international marijuana smuggling operation a "complex case."

The designation by U.S.  District Court Judge Sandra L.  Townes means the case will have a large amount of discovery, numerous defendants and possibly numerous motions that could drag it out for some time, federal prosecutors said Friday. 

So far, 10 people have been charged in connection with the crime ring that netted about $100 million, moving an estimated 50,000 pounds of pot through the St.  Regis Mohawk Reservation

The ringleaders of the operation allegedly were [redacted].  Both were accused of running a "continuing criminal enterprise" - a racketeering statute that's generally used to prosecute organized crime rings. 

Eight other people - [redacted] - were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and money laundering.  [redacted] also face those charges. 

The two-year investigation exposed a pipeline bringing marijuana into the U.S.  and distributing it to several cities, including Syracuse, Rochester and New York.  The operation is alleged to have moved the marijuana through the reservation from January 2003 until January of this year. 

Several federal, state and area law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation, which is continuing.  More arrests are pending.