Rocky Mount police arrest 17 on federal firearms charges

Rocky Mount police charged 17 people this week with illegal possession or sale of firearms. The sweep, dubbed "Operation Direct Impact," included arrests in Charlotte, Maryland and of some people already in custody charged with other crimes.

The police department worked in concert with  the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to identify the men, all known felons. The men and their charges are as follows:

Lorenza Dickens, 28, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a stolen firearm, aid and abetting

Tron Davis, 31, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime

James Taylor Jr., 30, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon; dealing firearms without a license

Morgan Terrell, 25, of Rocky Mount;
receive/possess a sawed-off shotgun; possession of stolen firearm

Henry Purvis, 59, Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by felon

Johnny Darden, 51 of Pinetops;
possession of a firearm by a felon

Benjamin Mcpherson, 30, Rocky Mount;
dealing firearms without a license; receive/ship/transport of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; receive/possess a sawed-off shotgun; possession of a stolen firearm; conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. government

Andrick Johnson, 35, of Rocky Mount; 
Dealing firearms without a license; possession of a firearm by a felon

William Cherry, 24, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a sawed-off shotgun

Mark Bishop, 37, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a stolen firearm

Donald Harrison, 47, of Rocky Mount;
arson/attempted arson

Darryel Hill, 23, of Rocky Mount;      
possession of a firearm by a felon

Wendell Lloyd, 29, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of firearm during a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; maintaining a place for a controlled substance; receive/ship/transport of a firearm with an obliterated serial number

Jamie Bryant, 35, of Rocky Mount;
possession of a firearm by a felon

Jimmy Hunter, 36, of Rocky Mount
possession a firearm by a felon

Ozay Richardson, 41, of Rocky Mount
possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

James Woodley, 28, of Rocky Mount
possession of a firearm by a felon