A Hamilton woman accused of filling orders for marijuanaseeds from around the country over the internet was formally charged onWednesday by Steuben County Prosecutors with a pair of Class Dfelonies. 20-year-old Laura Allece Wass is facing charges of dealing inmarijuana over 30 grams on the internet and maintaining a commonnuisance. Not guilty pleas were entered on her behalf duringWednesday's initial hearing, bond was set at $10,000 and a pre-trialconference was scheduled for December 4th in front of Magistrate RandyCoffey. According to Steuben County court documents, the investigationinvolved not only local law enforcement agencies but the U.S. PostalService and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency as well.
The investigation started in early June after Ashley Police had gotten ane-mail from a woman who said her son had stolen money from her safetydeposit box to order marijuana seeds from a web site based in Hamilton.Hamilton Police were notified and a department officer set up anundercover e-mail account. It was later determined by authorities thatWass allegedly received mail from all over the country. A searchwarrant was executed Tuesday morning as Wass and a man living at theresidence on Lane 150-H were arrested. Court documents identified theman as Jesse Steven Groth who was wanted on Michigan warrants forfederal mail fraud, wire fraud as well as for delivery andmanufacturing of marijuana. Court documents also indicate that policefound processed and dried marijuana in the home along with scales,indoor marijuana growing equipment and over 100 marijuana plants. Itwas also mentioned in the case file that numerous marijuana seeds werepackaged and ready to be shipped.
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