Missy Giove Busted w/ Nearly 400lb of Marijuana!

from the NY Daily News...

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/06/17/2009-06-17_mountain_biker.html

Wednesday, June 17th 2009, 5:50 PM

A former champion downhill mountain biker known for her outrageous looks and daredevil riding style was busted on Tuesday and charged with marijuana distribution by federal agents in upstate Wilton, N.Y.

Missy "The Missile" Giove, 37, and co-defendant Eric Canori, 30, face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine if convicted.

"Drug trafficking can lead you downhill fast," Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent John Gilbride said.

Giove is the most successful and perhaps colorful rider in competitive mountain biking's history. She grabbed a record 14 National Off-Road Bicycle Association championships and 11 World Cup wins, but her success was only part of her appeal. Giove, who sported a punk hair-do during her competitive riding days, rode with a dead piranha around her neck - to remind her to be aggressive - and the ashes of her deceased dog tucked inside her sports bra. Giove was also openly lesbian, a rarity in the homophobic world of sports.

In many ways, she was the face of her sport - she was featured in a Reebok ad and in several lifestyle magazines. Giove was also interviewed by David Letterman.

A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Albany says that officers with an upstate drug task force learned that Giove, Canori and others conspired to possess and distribute a large amount of marijuana. Investigators watched Giove, who lives in Chesapeake, Va., get off a plane at the Albany County Airport and take a cab to a hotel, where she met a confidential informant and picked up a pick-up truck and box-trailer.

Giove drove the truck to Canori's home in Wilton, just north of Saratoga Springs. Some of the contents of the trailer were unloaded at Canori's home.

Investigators followed Giove when she left the Wilton residence and her truck was stopped by investigators. Approximately 400 pounts of marijuana were found in the trailer and at Canori's house.

Giove and Canori made their initial court appearance in Albany on Wednesday before United States Magistrate Judge David Homer. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.