A Detroit man who was arrested this week for illegal gun possession also happened to be raking in the cash by operating a marijuana vending machine out of his home. Marcellus Cornwell was reportedly making about $2,000 a day from the machine, which was bolted to the side of his house and had many happy customers, Fox 2 reports.
- Police discovered 18 illegal firearms at his home. While executing a search warrant, they seized the firearms before they also discovered that Cornwell “owned and operated the marijuana vending machine attached to the residence for four years, making approximately $2,000 per day,” according to a filing by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Not too shabby!
- The machine was actually pretty sophisticated. One of Cornwell’s satisfied customers posted a video to social media showing how the machine worked and it seemed pretty technologically advanced, even accepting credit card and Apple Pay payments. “He was selling like, souvenirs. It’s an excellent service, I think it just got out of hand,” the customer said. Obviously, “souvenirs” is weed.
- Officers were shocked that Cornwell would run such a blatantly illegal operation where anyone could see it. ATF special agent Paul Vanderplow said: “I have to say the brazenness of it was shocking. You do this stuff in a neighborhood, people are going to notice and they’re going to get mad – they’re going to do something about it.” Authorities took away several pounds worth of marijuana when they seized the guns.
- Cornwell was arrested but is no longer in custody. Vanderplow said that authorities are still investigating where the guns came from and for what purpose they were in Cornwell’s possession. In the meantime, he was charged with a felony on top of six previous felonies. A federal magistrate judge released him on bond.
