NY horsemen indicted

According to a story in Tuesday's The Buffalo News, several New York-based horsemen have been indicted in what the newspaper is calling "one of the largest methamphetamine rings ever uncovered."



Trainer-driver Louis Russo was shipping horses from Canada into the U.S. at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge last July when he allegedly was caught with four duffel bags containing 430 pounds of ephedrine, one of the main ingredients in methamphetamine. Police said the ephedrine found in the trailer had a street value of $1.7 million.



Since July, four other persons involved in harness racing have been indicted by a federal grand jury in relation to the incident: owners Hugh and Sandra Jacobi Stevens, trainer-driver Ken Mego and Russo's brother, Christopher Russo. They, along with Louis Russo, have had their harness licenses suspended by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. All parties indicted have denied the allegations.



Because authorities have a wiretap recording that has Hugh Stevens allegedly threatening the life of Lou Russo if he informed on them to the police, he is being held in jail without bail. All the other co-defendants are out on bail.



Sandra Jacobi Stevens, Mego and Louis and Chris Russo are all accused of felony drug conspiracy. Hugh Stevens also faces a charge of managing a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory 20-year sentence in prison.

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