100 pounds of marijuana seized, 3 arrested in raid in Mechanicville

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

An estimated 100 pounds of marijuana was seized and three people were arrested in a raid last week in Mechanicville, according to federal court documents.

The raid took place at the residence of one of the three arrested, Lewis A. Martin.

The drugs were found in the home’s basement, along with Martin, George L. Alonzo and Daniel J. Izzo Jr.

The three now face a federal count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Their ages and addresses were unavailable.

The search warrant was served Oct. 25. Papers were filed in federal court the next day.

Izzo was identified in papers as the courier, bringing the marijuana to the residence by driving into the garage. Martin and Alonzo were there and helped to unload it.

Papers do not indicate how long before the raid the delivery took place. The address of the raid also appears to be redacted from the court paperwork.

Martin also allegedly was in line to receive as much as $200 for storing the marijuana at the residence, according to the filing.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Albany could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration declined to elaborate on the paperwork.

Izzo’s attorney is listed in federal court records as Oscar Schreiber, of Mechanicville. Schreiber could not be reached for comment Tuesday. No attorneys are listed for Alonzo and Martin.

News of the 100-pound marijuana seizure in Mechanicville came after an unrelated seizure in Montgomery County. Authorities there said Monday that 16 pounds of dried and packaged marijuana was seized from an attic on Route 5 in St. Johnsville.

Both the Mechanicville and St. Johnsville incidents, however, are a fraction of another marijuana bust from last year in Wilton.

In that June 16, 2009, seizure, authorities uncovered nearly 400 pounds of marijuana and $1.47 million in cash.

Court papers in the Mechanicville seizure suggest no cash was found in that raid.

Among those charged in the 2009 Wilton case was Melissa “Missy” Giove, a former downhill mountain bike champion. She has since pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of attempted possession of marijuana with intent to sell it.