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 Randolf "Randy"
Square, 44, of Hogansburg, and David Sunday, 37, of Snye, Quebec. Both
were accused of running a "continuing criminal enterprise" - a
racketeering statute that's generally used to prosecute organized
crime rings.

Eight other people - Walter Baus, 39, of Middle Village, Denise Cook,
26, of Fort Covington, Andrew Kagan, 32, of Ridgefield, N.J., Carmelo
Ruiz, 38, of Medford, Guy Gantz, 35, an Israeli citizen with no
verified U.S. address, and Queens residents Slobodan Pavicevic, 29,
Mersim Kolenovic, 29, and Kim Ki Joo, 52, - were indicted on charges
of conspiracy to distribute and possess more than 1,000 kilograms of
marijuana, and money laundering. Mr. Square and Mr. Sunday 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.