An American native activist who played a prominent role in the Caledonia land protest has been released on bail pending his trial in connection with a 100 kilogram marijuana smuggling operation.
Michael Laughing, 41, of Hogansburg, N.Y., was released from custody Thursday after depositing a $20,000 certified cheque in the bank to secure a $50,000 bail bond. If he fails to show up for his trial, he could lose $70,000 in cash and property, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Eurenius.
Laughing had been in custody since March 8 when he and nine other people were charged with possession with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to distribute the marijuana and importation of the marijuana from Canada to the United States during a two-year period from 2003 to 2005.
As part of his bail conditions, Laughing has been ordered to remain in the Northern District of New York State while awaiting his trial, which will be held in Syracuse, N.Y.
Although he is a member of the Akwesasne Reserve in New York State, he has relatives at the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford and spent several months at the Douglas Creek Estates protest site in Caledonia last year.
Charismatic and media friendly, the former high steel worker was one of the most vocal and visible protesters with his comments and picture often appearing in the Canadian media.
A prosecutor in the Northern District of New York, Eurenius accused Laughing of being a "courier" or middle level player in the ring which allegedly distributed marijuana throughout the north country, New England and mid-Atlantic states.
Eurenius said prosecutors are alleging that Sam Garrow Jr., 33, who also lives in Hogansburg, was the main marijuana supplier for the distribution network that went as far as Springfield, Mass.
In a separate operation this week, Garrow and another man were charged with smuggling hydroponic marijuana from Canada into the United States at the St. Regis Reserve near Cornwall. A boat had been used to ferry the drugs across the river.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spokesperson Erin Mulvey said the drugs in the Laughing case were produced in hydroponic marijuana grow operations in Ontario and Quebec.
She added she couldn't provide any more information because the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected on the American side.
She couldn't provide any information about the Canadian side of the operation.