Arrest Made for Possession of Machine Gun Conversion Device in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. — An arrest has been made following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of an illegal machine gun conversion device, according to authorities.

On January 1, 2026, at approximately 9:12 a.m., officers with the Tupelo Police Department were patrolling the area of North Gloster Street when they conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation.

After making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, officers detected the odor of marijuana and observed marijuana inside the vehicle. A subsequent search resulted in the recovery of marijuana and a firearm equipped with an illegal machine gun conversion device.

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 January 2, 2026, with one felony count of possession of a machine gun conversion device.

That same day, Judge Weir ordered Bell to be held on a $10,000 bond in Tupelo Municipal Court.

The case will be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury for further proceedings.