SIX MEN CHARGED IN POT PIPELINE

Two-Year Probe: Marijuana Moved Through Reservation

Federal authorities charged six people over their alleged roles in an
international marijuana smuggling operation that moved thousands of
pounds of pot through the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, netting the
crime syndicate about $100 million.

The two-year investigation exposed a pipeline bringing about 50,000
pounds of marijuana into the U.S. and distributing it to several
cities, including Syracuse, Rochester, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan,
federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The syndicate is alleged to have
moved the marijuana through the reservation from January 2003 to last
month.

"We won't see the impact from this for a few weeks," Assistant U.S.
Attorney Steven L. Tiscione said.

The Eastern District of New York, which covers three New York City
boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) and Long Island, is
handling the case.

The ringleaders of the operation allegedly were Randolf "Randy" Square
of Hogansburg and David Sunday of Snye, Quebec. Mr. Sunday goes by the
nicknames "Snook" and "Snookty." Both were accused of running a
"continuing criminal enterprise" - a racketeering statue that's
generally used to prosecute organized crime rings.

If convicted on the criminal enterprise charge, both of them face
mandatory imprisonment of at least 20 years. A life sentence is the
maximum possible, as are fines of up to $2 million each.

Mr. Square, who was arrested Tuesday on a federal search warrant
executed at a McGee Road home in Hogansburg, was arraigned Tuesday in
U.S. District Court in Plattsburgh and has a detention hearing
scheduled for Friday in Albany. Mr. Sunday was arraigned on the
charges Monday in Brooklyn.

Four other people - Walter Baus, Guy Gantz, Andrew Kagan and Carmelo
Ruiz - were indicted on charges of conspiracies to distribute and
possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering.
Mr. Square and Mr. Sunday also face those charges. A redacted federal
indictment was unsealed Tuesday.

Several federal, state and area law enforcement agencies assisted in
the investigation. Authorities seized an unknown amount of drugs,
weapons, vehicles and cash. Prosecutors also are looking to seize
several properties in Quebec, Hogansburg and Middle Village.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are pending.