MAN INDICTED IN FATAL DRUG ROBBERY

Marijuana Heist: Hogansburg Resident, 7th To Be Charged In Crime, Jailed
Without Bail; Vehicle Seized

Federal authorities charged a seventh man Friday for his alleged role
in a robbery that led to the shooting death of Daniel P. Simonds.

Bryan A. "Wildcat" Herne, 31, of 73 Raquette Point Road, Hogansburg,
was indicted by a federal grand jury in Syracuse on a charge of
conspiring to engage in a Hobbs Act robbery involving Canadian-grown
marijuana that had been at Mr. Simonds's home in the town of
Stockholm. The federal Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery
or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce.

St. Lawrence County sheriff's investigators and St. Regis Mohawk
Tribal Police picked up Mr. Herne late Thursday on an arrest warrant
without incident. A black Pontiac also was seized.

"It's significant from an evidence standpoint," Assistant U.S.
Attorney John M. Katko said. "We are glad to bring him to justice."

He was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gustave J. DiBianco and
ordered held without bail until a detention hearing Tuesday. If
convicted, Mr. Herne could face up to 20 years in federal prison. He
has retained New York City attorney Robert Jones.

The superseding indictment handed up Friday accuses Mr. Herne and six
other people of robbing Mr. Simonds of the marijuana and money at his
home in May and beating and shooting him before fleeing.

Mr. Simonds, 31, of 649 Porter Lynch Road, died May 13 at Fletcher
Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vt., after suffering a gunshot wound to
the lower back.

The shooting took place in the early morning during a struggle with at
least three unidentified suspects, according to investigators at the
time. The suspects are said to have fled the scene in two dark sport
utility vehicles.

In the aftermath of the killing, investigators found 140 pounds of
high-grade marijuana, $50,000 to $60,000 in cash and a Russian-made
hunting rifle at the Simonds home.

Three suspects are in custody.