United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

MONTGOMERY FELON ARRAIGNED IN FEDERAL COURT
ON GUN AND DRUG CHARGES

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Leura G. Canary, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, announced today that Christopher Foster, age 39, of Montgomery, Alabama, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of illegally possessing a firearm, one count of illegal possession of marijuana, and one count of illegally possessing body armor.
Foster was initially arrested on a complaint filed in federal court. After his arrest, a federal magistrate judge conducted a preliminary and detention hearing and ordered that Foster be detained in federal custody without bond because he posed a danger to the community. At the hearing, the magistrate judge heard evidence of Foster’s criminal history, his possession of firearms and how he had threatened people in his neighborhood prior to his arrest.

The indictment alleges that on April 10, 2007, and September 27, 2007, Foster possessed firearms after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of Manslaughter and Rape II, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). The indictment further alleges that Foster possessed marijuana on April 10, 2007, in violation of Title 21, United States Code Section 844(a). Foster is also charged with illegally possessing body armor on September 27, 2007, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 931(a).

After pleading not guilty, Foster was scheduled for trial in federal district court on February 4, 2008. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, Foster faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine on the charges of illegally possessing firearms. On the remaining charges, Foster faces a maximum of 2 years in prison on the marijuana possession charge and a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison on the charge of illegally possessing body armor.

The case was investigated as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Middle District of Alabama’s Alabama ICE programs, aimed at preventing violent crime and the illegal possession of firearms. According to United States Attorney Leura G. Canary, “By charging and detaining a violent felon such as Christopher Foster, we are attempting to prevent him from committing more violent offenses against the people of his community. The ICE program allows us to prosecute felons such as Foster and keep them in prison without bond pending trial.”

This case was investigated through the joint efforts of the Montgomery Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Shepherd.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.