WILTON, N.Y. -- Former mountain biking world champion Melissa "Missy" Giove has pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge for helping run a ring that smuggled marijuana from California to the East Coast.

Giove was arrested last June in Wilton after she met a courier and drove off with 350 pounds of marijuana while under surveillance. She was taken into custody trying to unload the shipment at the Saratoga County home of another man charged in the case.

Under a plea agreement, Giove is expected to be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison.

Giove was one of downhill mountain biking's first female superstars, winning world and national titles before retiring in 2003.