A North Iowa man is facing more than a half-dozen charges for allegedly selling alcohol and tobacco products to minors.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office (CGCSO) says they conducted an operation at Prime Wine and Spirits at 1104 North Federal Avenue in Mason City Friday (12.13) night. Over a few hours, several minors were seen leaving the business in possession of alcohol, leading to traffic stops with deputies finding alcohol and marijuana violations. Mason City Police then assisted and conducted surveillance and a traffic stop, resulting in more violations.
Deputies and officers then went into the store to investigate further. Inside, they found a 20-year-old purchasing alcohol and tobacco. The employee who allegedly made the illegal sale, 40-year-old Muhammad Hanif, was arrested and the establishment was closed.
Cerro Gordo County has charged Hanif with five counts of selling alcohol to a minor and two counts of selling tobacco to a minor. Mason City Police also charged Hanif with two counts of selling alcohol to a minor and one count of selling tobacco to a minor.
The ages of the minors from the investigation ranged from 16 to 20 years old.
CGCSO says the case is also being referred to the Iowa Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tax Compliance Division.
