Law enforcement agencies in New York, Illinois and California Monday received more that $8.9 million in forfeited assets from a 2009 traffic stop that uncovered a major marijuana distribution ring.
Of the $12,515,738 seized during the drug bust, $8,923,708.19 went to 33 different law enforcement agencies across the United States, with the remaining $3,592,029.81 going to the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
The case started on June 13, 2009, when Illinois State Police found approximately 334 pounds of marijuana hidden in a car trailer during a routine traffic stop. The drugs were intended to be transported from California to upstate New York for distribution. Through a controlled delivery executed with the Albany DEA Office, the delivery was completed, resulting in the arrest of three co-conspirators, Melissa Giove, Eric Canori and Robert Reinfurt, and eventually two others, Pamela Grosch and Sara Shafer. All five were later convicted in U.S. District Court for drug offenses.
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At the time of his arrest, $1,473,543 in cash was seized from Eric Canori’s Wilton residence, along with approximately 40 pounds of marijuana. A subsequent search of a home in Ross, Calif., rented by Canori, resulted in the seizure of an additional $688,660. Law enforcement agents were later provided with the locations of buried gold and silver bars and coins, which included 172 gold bars, 161 gold coins and a 100-ounce silver bar.
The gold and silver were “recovered, forfeited and eventually auctioned. Two pickup trucks and one trailer were also seized and forfeited.”
The money was divided as follows:
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New York
- Albany County District Attorney’s Office: $103,627.70
- Albany police: $473,297.05
- Bethlehem police: $85,474.76
- Columbia County Sheriff’s Office: $471,239.39
- East Greenbush police: $85,474.76
- State Department of Corrections: $471,239.39
- State National Guard: $34,407.16
- State Office of the Attorney General: $56,871.94
- State Police: $471,239.39
- New York County District Attorney’s Office: $482,146.37
- Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office: $471,239.39
- Rotterdam police:$18,518.94
- Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office: $122,146.64
- Saratoga Springs police: $467,408.37
- Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office: $452,720.45
- Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office: $46,233.03
- ‘Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office: $414,367.45
- Schenectady police: $471,239.39
- Troy police: $471,239.39
- Warren County Sheriff’s Department:$499,459.55
- Warren County District Attorney’s Office: $46,233.03
- Washington County District Attorney’s Office: $46,233.03
- Washington County Sheriff’s Office: $471,239.39
- Watervilet police: $385,951.65
Illinois
- Geneseo Police Department: $212,036.82
- Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office: $241,506.19
- Illinois State Police: $752,540.96
- Quad City Metro Enforcement Group: $241,506.19
California
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- Marin Major Crimes Task Force: $172,137.03
- Petaluma Police Department: $14,560.37
- Ross Police Department: $34,427.41
- Santa Rosa Police Department: $10,261.97
Federal
- IRS: $125,483.64
