Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104110476
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: HURT LENGTH: Short
FBI agent Noel Burch said Noel Lanier, 62, who owns the house, and Bobby Lanier, 31, were being held in Florida. The senior Lanier has addresses in Hurt and in Hollywood, Fla. His son has a Dania, Fla., address.
Noel Lanier is charged with obstruction of justice, conspiracy and aiding and abetting. Bobby Lanier is charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and other drugs and obstruction of justice.
Four others were named in a four-count indictment issued by a federal grand jury in Benton, Ill., March 27.
Burch described Wednesday's search as part of a drug investigation that dates to 1982.
Agents arrived at the house about 7:30 a.m. and had dug up the back yard garden by backhoe by late afternoon. A separate piece of property in Hurt also was searched.
"We are here looking for money," Burch said. "The warrant directs us to only look for the money."
One of Lanier's other sons, Randy, is a convicted marijuana distributor and is serving a prison term in Florida.
Counts against Noel and Bobby Lanier claim they tried to hide and dispose of money and property worth $3.5 million that Randy Lanier should have turned over to the U.S. government.
Authorities obtained search warrants in a Roanoke federal court this week based on initial information provided by the Springfield, Ill., FBI office.
by CNB