Star bicyclist admits role in pot peddling ring
Mike Vandeman
Mike
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=880920
Star bicyclist admits role in pot peddling ring
Once regarded as the fastest female mountain biker, Melissa Giove
could face 5 years
By BRENDAN J. LYONS, Staff writer
Last updated: 11:08 a.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2009
ALBANY -- A one-time champion mountain biker who was arrested last
year for her role in a massive marijuana trafficking conspiracy
pleaded guilty Monday to federal criminal charges that could put her
in prison for up to five years.
Melissa Giove, 37, a colorful athlete once regarded as the fastest
female mountain biker in the world, was arrested last June in Saratoga
County as part of a marijuana conspiracy that was funneling large
quantities of the drug from California to the East Coast.
Giove, who has been free on bail, admitted Monday in U.S. District
Court that she had taken part in a three-year distribution conspiracy
in which couriers worked under the direction of her and an alleged co-
conspirator, Eric Canori of Wilton.
The conspiracy unraveled in June when a man who had been hired by
Giove to drive more than 350 pounds of marijuana from San Francisco to
Albany was arrested by state troopers in Moline, Ill. The man, who was
not identified in Giove's court case, agreed to cooperate with police
and federal agents.
The courier told police he was to be paid $30,000 plus travel expenses
to drive the Ford F-150 and its illicit cargo across the country. He
said Giove, who sometimes followed the truck in a separate car but was
careful to never ride in the delivery vehicle, had instructed him to
drive below the posted speed limit.
The marijuana was stuffed in a box trailer that was lined with dry ice
to throw off drug-sniffing dogs, but it did not work and a canine
discovered the cargo when Illinois troopers stopped the truck.
Giove, who lives in Chesapeake, Va., communicated with the drug
courier by cell phone and text messages as he continued driving east
with police and federal agents tracking his every move.
On June 16, DEA agents were watching when the courier and Giove met at
a Hilton Hotel near the Albany International Airport. Giove climbed
into the truck and drove north with the courier into Saratoga County.
Giove dropped off the DEA's cooperator at a bookstore in Wilton and
minutes later she picked up Canori at a Hannaford grocery story.
But after the pair began unloading their cargo at Canori's house on
Preserve Way in Wilton they knew something was wrong. Giove called the
courier and told him to "make wings," which court papers said was
"code for saying that the drug operation had been compromised by
authorities."
Giove and Canori were arrested immediately. Agents seized 30 to 50
pounds of marijuana from Canori's house, not including the more than
350 pounds of marijuana they had taken from the truck in Illinois.
They also seized more than $1 million from a duffel bag and shoe boxes
in Canori's house.
The drug delivery was part of a distribution conspiracy that began in
2006, according to Giove's plea agreement.
Giove faces up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million.
But under the plea agreement she signed with the government, Giove
agreed that she would not appeal any sentence of more than 60 months
behind bars.
Giove remains released on bail and her sentencing was set for March
25.
Canori was indicted, along with Giove and a third suspect, on
marijuana distribution charges. He has pleaded not guilty and remains
free on bail. His trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 8 in Albany.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=880920#ixzz0aRRpUVSC
cca...@new.rr.com
This street tricyclist (i.e. me) wishes that he would've known this
girl!
W.W.J.R.?,
Regards