Rap group members charged with drug, weapon possession

<p>Two members of Atlanta rap group Youngbloodz and their 12-person entourage were arrested and slapped with drug and weapons charges.</p><p>Jeffrey Ray Grigsby, 29, who performs using the name J-Bo, and Sean Paul Joseph, 27, who performs using the name Sean Paul, were arrested Thursday on I-85 on the way to a concert in Columbus, Ga.</p><p>All 14 were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms.</p><p>Coweta County Corp. Clinton Reynolds said he pulled the tour bus over because it had an expired Florida tag but immediately noticed the odor of burning marijuana. "I told the driver I smelled marijuana, and I called for backup units," he said.</p><p>After a search of the vehicle, Reynolds said the officers found two firearms and about a half pound of marijuana divided into 11 plastic bags.</p><p>The marijuana bags had been hidden throughout the bus in various places, including a vacuum cleaner bag and an iPod box, Reynolds said. The guns were found under two mattresses.</p><p>The entire group was bonded out Friday afternoon.</p><p>The group, whose hits include "85 South" and "Cadillac Pimping," will be exonerated, said Tice Merriweather, a spokesman for the group's record label, Jive Records.</p><p>"The guys have never had any trouble with the law," Merriweather said in a statement. "They are completely innocent and they will be exonerated from these charges."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cd9bec)</p>