Police apparently guarded the road leading to Forrest City's federal prison complex today, awaiting the arrival of T.I. to begin serving time on a weapons conviction.

Five officers from Forrest City and the prison set up a roadblock about a tenth of a mile away from the federal prison. Other officers cruised down the two-lane stretch of highway, as passers-by slowed down to gawk at television cameras and reporters waiting at crossroads.

Police refused to allow reporters close to the prison. Police Chief Dwight Duch didn't immediately return a call for comment.

A federal prison spokeswoman based in Washington, said T.I.'s arrival would be handled no differently than any other, and the prison had no special protections prepared for him.

T.I. is now 28 & was arrested after trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.