Man found with trunk full of pot-laced candy outside strip mall, police say

MARIETTA, Ga. — Warning to parents: A man was arrested after having a trunk full of drug-laced candy, according to authorities, and he may have been trying to sell the illicit sweets to kids.

Jail records show Lief Ervin is facing more than a dozen charges for possession of marijuana and intent to distribute.

Last Thursday, an agent with the Georgia Department of Revenue was on business at a local strip mall on Cobb Parkway South when he smelled marijuana.

According to a police report, the agent walked over to the car and “observed marijuana and a digital scale lying in the truck that Ervin was reaching into.”

The agent found pot-laced snacks that looked similar to Cheetos, Goldfish and gummy bears along with pipes, cash and a loaded gun.

“Packages that included the name brands you would associate with Cheetos, with Reese’s Pieces with Lemonheads with Sour Patch Kids,” said Chuck McPhilamy, with the Marietta Police Department. "Very concerning to me as a parent that they were made to look like candy."

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Neighboring tenants told Channel 2 Action News Ervin works at Executive Cuts Barbershop. We reached out to an employee who works at the barbershop, but the person refused to answer our questions.

The drug bust happened when Ernia Bell was at work next door.

"It’s just a shocker because you would just think it’s regular candy if it wasn’t in that packaging," said Bell. "You have to watch out. It’s a big concern."

Court records show Ervin is a convicted felon, which is why his bond was set at $70,000. Ervin was convicted of a robbery in New York City.

Channel 2 Action News discovered Ervin bailed himself out of jail Sunday. His next court date hasn't been scheduled.

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