The federal grand jury in Springfield (Wednesday) returned an indictment that charges Michael Hari, 47; Joe Morris, 22; Michael McWhorter, 29; and, Ellis Mack, 18, all of Clarence, Ill., a rural community in east central Illinois, with possession of a machine gun. The four men were previously arrested and charged with the offense in a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on March 13, 2018.

The indictment alleges that the four men were in possession of a machine gun from October 2017, up to and including Feb. 27, 2018.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Springfield Division; FBI Minneapolis Division; University of Illinois Police Department; Ford County Sheriff’s Office; Champaign Police Department; Illinois State Police; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Urbana Division, Central District of Illinois, working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

The men have been ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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