Two men charged after pot bust

Two Flathead County men have been charged with felony drug crimes after a Feb. 3 traffic stop yielded three pounds of marijuana.

On Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Robin Ruiz pleaded innocent to criminal possession with intent to distribute.

Lief Erickson, the second man charged in the case, is expected to be arraigned Feb. 24 on the same charge.

According to court documents, the two were traveling in a vehicle on U.S. 2 near Lake Five Road on Feb. 3 when they were stopped by Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies who were acting on a tip.

Erickson, who was driving, allowed the deputies to search the vehicle.

The search turned up three pounds of marijuana, three hundred capsules believed to contain THC — tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana — and five vials of suspected THC honey, according to court documents.

The illegal substances were found in two five-gallon buckets with labels reading “Delivery to Poppy’s Mini Mart.”

 A Northwest Drug Task Force agent also found a piece of paper with writing that read “3 lbs, $7,500. 11 grams Honey $275 + $7,725,” according to court documents.

Investigators believe the men were taking the marijuana to Great Falls, according to court documents.

Erickson remains in the Flathead County Detention Center while Ruiz has been released on bail.

A conviction for criminal possession with intent to distribute carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $50,000.