
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104110516
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: HURT                                LENGTH: Short

$600,000 SEIZED IN PITTSYLVANIA RAID/

Authorities on Wednesday seized more than $600,000 in suspected drug laundering money, gold and luxury cars in Pittsylvania County and arrested the owner of the house and his son near Miami, Fla.

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.

Authorities obtained search warrants in Roanoke federal court this week based on initial information provided by the Springfield, Ill., FBI office.

by CNB