Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight's mom in drug bust

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BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The mother of Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight has been charged in Buffalo, N.Y., with participating in a cross-country drug ring.

Myra Hight, 51, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., was arrested last week in a parking lot in Hamburg, N.Y., The Buffalo News reported. Investigators said they believe she had just been paid for a shipment of marijuana and seized $77,000 found in her possession.

"We believe that she is part of a larger-scale drug-trafficking organization that's been operating both nationally and here in Erie County involving the distribution of large quantities of marijuana," Sheriff's Capt. Gregory Savage said.

Elena Hight, a half-pipe snowboarder, was on the U.S. team for the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010 and is expected to be a member of the 2014 team. Authorities have not suggested she was involved in anything illegal.

Her mother's arrest followed a long investigation by Hamburg police, Erie County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Investigators charge Myra Hight had a cross-country delivery route with the Buffalo area the last stop.

Myra Hight faces local charges of possession of a Taser and of a small quantity of marijuana. She faces federal charges of possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute.