The U.S. Department of Justice has charged three Meridian men with witness tampering resulting in death, drug trafficking and conspiracy in connection with the death of Anton Ford outside of “Just Friends” JR’s Lounge in Meridian just before midnight on March 10.

The indictments and charges against Aubrey Maurice Jordan, 26, Monroe L. Hughes, III a/k/a “Roe,” 39, and Cortez Lakeith Byrd a/k/a Byrd, 26, all of Meridian, were announced Monday by U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Derryle Smith and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols.

If convicted, the men face the possibility of a death sentence.

Jordan and Byrd had their initial appearance and arraignments Friday before U.S. Magistrate Linda R. Anderson. Hughes is scheduled to have his initial appearance and arraignment Tuesday before Anderson, according to a Justice Department news release.

Ford, identified by the Justice Department as a confidential source for the East Mississippi Drug Task Force, was shot March 10 in the back of the neck outside of JR’s Lounge.

According to the Justice Department, the confidential source had previously participated in controlled buys on or about Sept. 21, 2017, and on or about Oct. 9, 2017, involving Hughes and Byrd.

In Count 1, Hughes and Byrd are charged with conspiracy to possess 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, according to the news release.

In Count 2, Hughes is charged with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine, according to the news release.

In Count 3, Hughes and Byrd are charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

In Counts 5 and 7, Jordan is charged with tampering with and retaliating against witness by killing, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison or imprisonment for any term of years, according to the news release.

All men are charged in Counts 4 and 6 with conspiracy to tamper with and retaliate against a witness, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison or imprisonment for any term of years, according to the news release.

A trial is scheduled on Sept. 4, before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

The case is the result of an investigation by the East Mississippi Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Meridian Police Department, according to the news release. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton.

Jordan was previously charged in Lauderdale County with attempted murder after Ford was shot.

Ford died June 3 following complications from pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism, which Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said was linked with the March 10 “Just Friends” JR’s Lounge shooting.

That shooting left Ford paralyzed, Cobler said, which contributed to his declining health.

Whitney Downard contributed to this report.