MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A Memphis man was convicted after possessing homemade knives in prison on Tuesday, according to the United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee.

Mervin Anderson, 40, was convicted of one count of possession of contraband in prison, including two homemade knives or shanks.

The attorney's office said Anderson was caught on video surveillance inside a federal detention center with two handmade metal knives, also referred to as "shanks."

Reports said Anderson confronted another inmate while swinging the shanks at him.

According to the attorney's office, a corrections officer responded to the cell block area and found Anderson with the shanks.

The office said that when the shanks were taken from Anderson, he said, "God is on my side, I was about t

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