FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Charlotte man faces felony gun and drug charges after being stopped by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Interstate 77.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Willie Darnell Burns, 36, of Cinderella Road, Charlotte in a news release Thursday.

Deputies assigned to the ICSO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team were working in the area of Turnersburg Highway and Interstate 77 when they conducted a traffic stop of an Infiniti M37 sedan on Friday, June 30, the sheriff said.

While deputies spoke with Burns, who was driving from Charlotte to Statesville, they smelled marijuana coming from inside his vehicle, according to the news release.

Deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and located and seized over 86 grams of MDMA pills, over 92 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 75 grams of marijuana, two dosage units of oxycodone, digital scales, and bags commonly used to package illegal drugs for sale, Campbell said.

Deputies also found a Glock 10mm pistol concealed in the vehicle, according to the news release. When the deputies searched Burns’ criminal history, they learned he was a convicted felon, which prohibits him from processing a firearm.

Burns was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with felony trafficking MDMA by possession, felony trafficking MDMA by transportation, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver MDMA, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule I controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms), felony maintaining a vehicle for sale or use of a controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm by convicted felon, misdemeanor carrying a concealed gun, and two misdemeanor drug offenses.

Burns appeared before Magistrate Imes, who issued a $400,000 secured bond on these charges.