TUPELO — A Tupelo man has been arrested and charged with a felony after police discovered an illegal machine gun conversion device during a traffic stop earlier this month.
According to authorities, officers were patrolling the area of North Gloster Street around 9:12 a.m. on Jan. 1 when they conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. After making contact with the occupants, officers reported smelling and observing marijuana inside the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of marijuana and a firearm equipped with an illegal machine gun conversion device, police said. The driver was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Lee County Jail.
Following further investigation, Deshon N. Bell, 23, of Tupelo, was formally charged on Jan. 2 with one felony count of possession of a machine gun conversion device.
Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Weir ordered Bell held on a $10,000 bond. The case will be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury.
