Five Greenville, Mississippi men were taken into custody by law enforcement on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of felon in possession of a weapon, and three of the five are additionally charged with drug trafficking and related weapons charges, announced United States Attorney William C. Lamar for the Northern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze of the FBI in Mississippi.

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On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, law enforcement took the following individuals into custody:

  • Ted Bell, age 41, of Greenville.
  • Henry Brown, age 39, of Greenville.
  • Cornelius K. Harris, age 29, of Greenville.
  • George Jefferson, age 34, of Greenville.
  • Lonnie Nalls, age 35, of Greenville.

Bell is charged in a four count indictment with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Bell faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Brown is charged in a three count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Brown faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $2.5 million.

Jefferson is charged in a three count indictment with one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possession with intent to distribute – marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Jefferson faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Harris and Nalls are each charged in a one count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Harris and Nalls each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

All five individuals made initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden, United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi in Greenville on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Magistrate Judge Virden ordered that Bell, Harris, Jefferson, and Nalls be held pending Detention Hearings set for Thursday, March 21, 2019.

Agencies assisting with the investigation and arrests were the Greenville Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Circuit Court, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Mims.

These charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.