Staff report

BEAUMONT — A 26-year-old Beaumont man has been arrested for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown said Thursday.

Bernard James Bell was arrested Wednesday after the U.S. District Court made a complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bell appeared in federal court Thursday on the charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in an issued statement. The gun was believed to be connected to the shooting death of Anthony Wilson, 37, killed when he confronted three Beaumont teens he believed had burglarized his vehicle.

According to information presented in court, law enforcement officers on April 11 began investigating the Wilson homicide that occurred in Beaumont’s west end. On April 14, investigators learned that Bell was provided a firearm that was used in connection with that homicide.

After speaking with Bell, investigators recovered the firearm and determined that Bell had possessed it. Further investigation revealed Bell is a convicted felon having several convictions in Jefferson County in 2011 and 2012, the statement said. As a convicted felon, Bell is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

If convicted, Bell faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Charged in Wilson’s murder were Jamirious Jantrel Gardner, 17; John James Cook, 18; and a 15-year-old juvenile.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department investigated the gun charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James is the prosecutor.