Man accused of having, planning to sell drug

A Brasher Falls man faces federal charges for allegedly possessing and distributing marijuana in St. Lawrence County.

Leonard D. Lauber, 45, was charged Friday with conspiracy to distribute and possession of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, federal officials said.

He was arraigned in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge George H. Lowe. A bail hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Mr. Lauber, who was picked up Thursday during a traffic stop in the town of Louisville, is accused of providing marijuana to Louis Tomassini Jr. of Rensselaer Falls and Potsdam resident William Burkett, who both were arrested in October on drug charges, federal officials said.

Mr. Lauber was sentenced to probation in St. Lawrence County Court in August 2005 after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Mr. Lauber admitted to having 33 pounds of marijuana in his possession. In March 2008 he was sentenced to prison for violating that probation by entering a tavern, using cocaine and failing to report to his probation officer.

He was in prison from early April 2008 to Dec. 23, 2008, according to state records.