Marijuana Delivered to Cincinnati Bengals Jerome Simpson's Home
Cincinnati Bengals players Jerome Simpson and Anthony Collins were detained Sept. 20 by authorities after a package containing 2.5 pounds of marijuana was delivered to Simpson's Kentucky home.
According to drug enforcement officials in California, the package was tracked from a mail distribution center in Sacramento to the wide receiver's home.
The package originated in northern California and was one of 40 packages authorities were tracking, said Michelle Gregory of the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Simpson and Collins were present in the house when a female, identified as Aleen Smith, accepted the package Tuesday.
Simpson consented to a search of his home, where authorities recovered six more pounds of marijuana.
"The house was set up as a potential distribution network," Tommy LaNier, head of the National Marijuana Initiative, told CaliforniaWatch.org, according to USA Today.
Officers also seized drug paraphernalia such as "packaging materials, scales and smoking devices" but neither player was arrested and no charges have been filed, according to ESPN. Authorities are not sure whether state or federal charges will be filed later this week or what agency, if any, will handle the case. If filed, the charges will likely be felony charges, Gregory said.
The Bengals are aware of the reports but have not commented. Both players participated in Wednesday's practice in preparation for the team's Sunday game against the San Francisco 49ers, USA Today reported. Simpson and Collins could be subject to discipline under the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
Both players are in their fourth year with the Bengals. Simpson was drafted in the second round in 2008. Collins, a linebacker, is a fourth-round pick and has started 10 games during his career.
