DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit man making big money off a vending machine that dispensed marijuana and prescription pills off the side of his house found himself in deeper trouble after police discovered 18 firearms stashed throughout his home.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said via WDIV that they first became aware of suspect Marcellus Cornwell and his marijuana and pill dispensing vending machine after they received an anonymous tip back on Jan. 7.
According to a criminal complaint filed April 26, the tipster told authorities that Cornwell had a large stash of firearms within his westside residence on Mettetal Street and sold drugs and guns to underage children.
The criminal complaint reported by WDIV said the ATF began to keep surveillance on Cornwell's home and agents collected evidence by purchasing products suspected to be marijuana from the vending machine in February and March.
Agents reported they were able to buy 5.28 grams of alleged marijuana on Feb. 18 and another 4.1 grams on March 1.
Authorities were able to obtain a search warrant on March 14 and executed it two days later on March 16. WDIV reported.
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Law enforcement forced their way into the home after waiting "a reasonable amount of time with no additional response from within," after announcing themselves at the door, court records stated.
Authorities said they saw someone inside the home and after forcing their way in, confronted Cornwell who was walking about the stairs and another man in the living room.
After a search of the home, ATF agents discovered 18 firearms, many rounds of ammunition and several kilos of alleged marijuana.
Via WDIV, ATF agents provided a detailed list of the items found outlined in the complaint. They are as follows:
• A Masterpiece Arms Defender, 9 mm caliber pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Volunteer Enterprises Inc. Commando Mark 3, .45-caliber rifle -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Davis Industries DM22, .22-caliber pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Com Prod Inc. CDM, .22-caliber revolver -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Weihrauch Windicator, .357-caliber revolver, loaded with five rounds of .357 caliber ammunition -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A GIVATI Firearms RT9, 9 mm caliber, semiautomatic pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Chongqing Jianshe Industry Group M12AR, 12-gauge caliber semiautomatic shotgun -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Chongqing Jianshe Industry Group M12AR, 12-gauge caliber semiautomatic shotgun -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Goodtime Outdoors Inc. Core 15, .223 5.56-caliber rifle -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Western Field (Mossberg) M550ABD, 12-gauge shotgun -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol, loaded with nine rounds of .40-caliber ammunition -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Bushmaster XM15-E2S, .223 5.56-caliber semiautomatic rifle -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
A Romarmsa Cugir GPWASR-10/63, 7.62 x 39 caliber rifle -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Rock River Arms LAR15, 5.56-caliber -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Glock 19, 9 mm caliber semiautomatic pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Taurus G3C, 9 mm caliber pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of 9 mm Luger ammunition -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A SCCY CPX-1, 9 mm caliber semiautomatic pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• A Smith & Wesson SD 40VE, .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• Box of approximately 143 rounds of assorted ammunition -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• One Pro Mag Drum Pistol magazine, one SCCY pistol magazine, and one Smith & Wesson magazine -- found in the gun safe in the basement.
• Thirty-three rounds of assorted 9 mm and .40-caliber ammunition -- found on the desktop and throughout the dining room.
• Two boxes of .380-caliber ammunition containing 57 rounds -- found in the nightstand by the bed of Cornwell’s bedroom.
• Fifteen rounds of 12-gauge ammunition and one round of 20-gauge ammunition -- found in the nightstand near door of Cornwell’s bedroom.
• Five rounds of 12-gauge ammunition -- found loaded in a magazine in the nightstand by the bed of Cornwell’s bedroom.
• Twenty-five rounds of .223-caliber ammunition -- found loaded in a magazine in the nightstand by the bed of Cornwell’s bedroom.
• Thirteen rounds of .223-caliber ammunition -- found in the nightstand in the closet of Cornwell’s bedroom.
Cornwell admitted to authorities he also had several stashes of cash around the home and that he made $2,000 a day operating the vending machine on the side of his home.
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According to authorities, Cornwell said he lived at the home on Mettetal Street his entire life and the other man in the home is an employee and lives there.
Cornwell told law enforcement that he had $7,000 cash in the safe located in his bedroom, officials said; Cornwell had to use his fingerprint to gain access to the safe. Court records via WDIV said cash was found on a nightstand and about $5,700 was stashed in a bag in the dining room.
Cornwell told police that he purchased most of his firearms from individuals off the street. He also said some were given to him as gifts and while two firearms he was safekeeping for a relative who was not in town, accoridng to the complaint.
ATF agents said they were able to determine two of the guns in Cornwell's possession, the Taurus G3C 9 mm pistol and the Smith & Wesson SD 40VE, .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, were reported stolen in Nov. of 2021.
Cornwell now faces a possible charge of felon in possession of a firearm.