The owner of Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store has been charged with selling alcohol-infused sweets without a liquor licence after undercover investigators bought liquor-filled chocolates from the Jordan shop.
Robert Wagner, 66, of Belle Plaine, faces a gross misdemeanour charge in Scott County District Court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 364 days in jail and fined $3,000.
Investigation into liquor-filled candy
The investigation began after an anonymous complaint was made to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division on 1 July. The complaint alleged that the store had sold liquor-filled confectionery to a child without checking identification.
Undercover agents visited the business on 22 July and found a section containing alcoholic sweets and other confectionery. They bought brandy cherries and a Jack Daniel’s chocolate bar, court documents state.
The products included Asbach Pralinen Brandy Cherries, listed as containing 7.3 per cent alcohol, and Goldkenn Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire chocolates, with an alcohol content of 3.58 per cent by volume.
Investigators said there was no separate process for buying the alcohol-infused products, which were sold alongside ordinary confectionery. Some of the packaging warned that sales to people below the legal drinking age were unlawful.
Under Minnesota law, liqueur-filled candy may only be sold in an exclusive liquor store. The investigators later returned with a search warrant and spoke to Wagner, who allegedly said he believed he was permitted to sell the products despite the shop not holding a liquor licence.
Owner due in court
The charge was filed on 27 October. Wagner’s first court appearance is scheduled to take place by video link on 18 December.
Customers told local media they were concerned that children might assume products displayed in a candy shop were safe for them to buy, particularly if the alcohol content was not immediately noticed.
Wagner could not be reached for comment. A manager at Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store also declined to comment.
