News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
Peter F. Neronha
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
June 28, 2011
WOONSOCKET MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BEING
FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
12th defendant convicted in federal court
in two-year ATF, Woonsocket Police probe into firearms trafficking and drugs
Providence, R.I. – A Woonsocket man has become the twelfth person convicted in federal court in Providence in an on-going two-year joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Woonsocket Police into firearm trafficking and drug crimes in Woonsocket. United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha today announced that Marquis L. Brewster, 26, pled guilty Monday as charged by indictment to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on October 13, 2009, Brewster went to an ATF undercover apartment in Woonsocket and illegally sold a .32 caliber firearm to an informant for $300. The transaction was recorded by both audio and video equipment.
Brewster, whose felony criminal record includes convictions for drug trafficking and other crimes, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7 by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release.
At a news conference on June 15, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Office; Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin; and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey disclosed the on-going investigation targeting illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking throughout the city of Woonsocket. To date, the investigation has resulted in federal charges against sixteen defendants, the seizure of more than three dozen illegal firearms, and the seizure of substantial amounts of crack cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy pills and hits of acid. The investigation has also resulted in the arrest of two defendants on state charges.
The federal court cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard B. Sullivan and Richard W. Rose.
Contact: 401-709-5357
USARI.Media@usdoj.gov
