NFL: Bengals Jerome Simpson Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges; Could Face 1 to 5 Years In Prison

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Four months after marijuana was delivered to Jerome Simpson’s home, the Bengals wide receiver was indicted on a drug charge Thursday in Kenton County.

Simpson was indicted on one count of trafficking marijuana in excess of eight ounces. An arraignment date in Kenton Circuit Court was not immediately set. The charge is punishable by one to five years in prison.

Federal authorities swooped on his Crestview Hills townhouse in September and seized a package containing 2.5 pounds of California marijuana being shipped to the residence. Inside the home investigators found about six more pounds of marijuana, scales and smoking devices.

A path leading to Simpson’s residence began Sept. 19, a California law enforcement official told the Enquirer shortly after the raid.

A narcotics unit devoted to detecting and tracking suspected marijuana shipments flagged a package, which originated in Eureka, Calif., at a Sacramento shipping center. California authorities then alerted Kentucky law enforcement agents about the package, and they kept an eye on it while it was delivered, according to authorities.

When the packaged arrived at Simpson’s town home in the 2700 block of Mansion Place, Simpson’s 27-year-old acquaintance, Aleen Smith, accepted it from the delivery man, according to authorities. Simpson was briefly detained and gave investigators permission to search his home. That’s when the additional marijuana and scales were found.

Offensive tackle Anthony Collins was at the home when the package was delivered but was not indicted on Thursday. Bengals coach Martin Lewis has said the 26-year-old Texas native was not the subject of the investigation and that the player appeared to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Simpson gained national attention in December with his 19-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown against Arizona that included a somersault flip over Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington from the 2-yard line into the end zone. The North Carolina native just completed his fourth year with the Bengals. He was drafted in the second round in 2008 and emerged as one of the team’s starting wide receivers. Simpson attended Coastal Carolina for college.

This is the second Bengal this week to be the subject of court proceedings. Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hamilton County Municipal Court to one count of resisting arrest. The 28-year-old West Virginia native was sentenced to one year of probation, a $250 fine, 50 hours of community service and ordered to stay out of the Scene Ultra nightclub. When police officers arrived, Jones cursed at police.

Trouble started for Jones after an argument broke out July 10 at the nightclub in the 600 block of Walnut Street Downtown. When they tried to handcuff him, he waved his arms and tensed his muscles to try to prevent that.

WRITTEN BY Jim Hannah & FULL STORY HERE