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ESPN reports that Melissa Giove, the former world champion mountain biker best known as "Missy", was ordered held on $250,000 bail and charged with conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.
Giove, 37, and her co-defendant, Eric Canori, 30, were further ordered to surrender their passports, attend all court appearances and notify authorities of any changes in phone number or address should they post bail. In addition, Judge David Homer imposed travel restrictions on both defendants.
According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency spokeswoman, Erin Mulvey, authorities were tipped off to Giove and Canori's plan when Illinois State Police stopped a woman driving a truck and trailer loaded with about 220 pounds of marijuana. Authorities arranged for the delivery of the marijuana to the Albany area as planned. Once delivered, Giove picked up the vehicle and trailer.
Giove is then alleged to have driven the the vehicle north while following Canori to his home where some of the marijuana was unloaded.
Giove was later arrested near Saratoga Lake.
A search of Canori's home resulting in finding 150 pounds of marijuana and more than $1 million in cash located in a closed and the basement of the home. All told, the DEA seized almost 400 pounds of pot from the truck and Canori's home outside Saratoga Springs.
Canori has been ordered held on $500,000 bail.
In court on Thursday, Giove's public defender, Tim Austin, hinted at a potential defense strategy stating that the drugs were planted in the truck, possibly by the police.
FYI: Giove is nicknamed "The Missile," and was the downhill world champion in 1994, won World Cup season titles in '97 and '98, and captured national titles from 1999-2001. She retired from downhill racing in 2003.
Author's name: Gabriel Dorman
Author's e-mail: gabedorman@gmail.com
Author's blog URL: www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/
Posted June 19th, 2009 by Gabriel Dorman
