Lodi Man Busted In Ring That Allegedly Turned Candy Into Drugs

LODI, NJ – A Lodi man is among the 24 people charged in a large-scale drug network in New Jersey that allegedly turned legitimate candy into drugs, according to authorities.

Ariel Baez, 45, was arrested and charged in “Operation On The Ropes,” an investigation that uncovered a scheme to convert candy, such as Nerd Rope and Sour Patch Kids, into an illegal THC-infused product, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the substance that creates most of marijuana's "high."

Read More: 24 Busted In NJ Ring That Allegedly Turned Candy Into Drugs

The drug ring operated largely throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties as well as parts of New York. Those arrested were from those counties as well as Camden, Gloucester, Morris and Atlantic, authorities said.

Among the arrested was Lee D'Avanzo, 52, the husband of "Mob Wives" star Drita D'Avanzo, who was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy to possess marijuana and fourth-degree possession of marijuana in excess of 50 grams.

The illegal operation utilized a warehouse on Park Avenue in Manalapan Township and a hangar at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall Township as production and storage facilities. The approximate 21,000 pieces of candy were manufactured with unknown amounts of THC and totals over 100,000 individual doses, according to the MCPO.

Its leader, Dylon J. Addvensky, 27, of Freehold, also is the owner of Deeez Donutz, a gourmet doughnut truck based in Jackson, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Operation On The Ropes culminated with the execution of over a dozen search warrants in Monmouth, Ocean, and Bergen counties resulting in the seizure of approximately 21,000 packages of candy infused with suspected THC, 1,100 pounds of suspected marijuana, as well as over 6,000 flavored THC vape cartridges, according to the MCPO.

All of it had an estimated street value of $1.9 million.

A total of $10,151,711 in assets, $1,483,859 in cash, and 21 high-end exotic vehicles, including cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes Benz, with an estimated total value of approximately $2,783,445, were also seized as part of the criminal investigation.

There is an ongoing investigation into the financial activities of the criminal enterprise. Anyone with information are urged to contact Captain Maria Reverendo of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, at 1-800-533-7443.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text "MONMOUTH" plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.