Seventh suspect captured in drug robbery, death
Authorities have captured a Hogansburg man who was the last person at large among seven people indicted for their alleged roles in a robbery that led to the shooting death of Daniel P. Simonds.
Derek J. Cook, 29, was picked up Wednesday by St. Lawrence County sheriff's detectives in Massena, District Attorney Nicole M. Duvé said. He had been on the run since a federal grand jury indicted him in July 2008.
"It was the result of ongoing efforts by the St. Lawrence County sheriff's department that led to his capture," Ms. Duvé said.
She declined to reveal how detectives captured Mr. Cook in Massena.
He pleaded innocent Thursday in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, before Judge David E. Peebles on a charge of conspiring to engage in a robbery involving Canadian-grown marijuana that had been at Mr. Simonds's home in the town of Stockholm. The federal law cited prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce.
Mr. Cook is being held without bail at the Onondaga County Justice Center, Syracuse. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison. He has retained Syracuse attorney James McGraw.
A superseding indictment handed up last November accuses Mr. Cook and six other people of robbing Mr. Simonds of the marijuana and money at his home in May 2008 and beating and shooting him before fleeing.
Mr. Simonds, 31, of 649 Porter Lynch Road, died May 13, 2008, at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vt., as a result of a gunshot wound to the lower back.
The shooting took place in the early morning during a struggle with at least three men. The suspects were said to have fled the scene in two dark sport utility vehicles.
In the aftermath of the killing, investigators found 140 pounds of high-grade marijuana, $50,000 to $60,000 in cash and a Russian-made hunting rifle at the Simonds home.
Six suspects already are in custody: Brian J. Latulipe, Bombay; Alan R. Jacobs, Hogansburg; Bryan A. "Wildcat" Herne, Hogansburg; Chad Edwards, Cornwall, Ontario; Anson Edwards, Cornwall, Ontario; and Kaientanoron L. "Nolo" Swamp, Snye, Quebec.
The Edwards brothers, who were captured earlier this year on Cornwall Island, are continuing to fight extradition to the United States, Ms. Duvé said.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs is handling the extradition proceedings against the brothers. No timetable was available on when the brothers could be turned over to U.S. authorities. The other four remain in federal custody.
The investigation later found Mr. Simonds had been moving marijuana to the Cleveland area every other week. Authorities in July charged eight people, including four from Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, over their alleged roles in an international drug smuggling operation linked to the Russian Mafia that moved about $27 million worth of marijuana.
