Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison

NEW BERN – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court, United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced gary starkie , 52, of Greenville to 25 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

STARKIE had been indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  These charges stemmed from an incident on June 28, 2012, when two patrol officers with the Greenville Police Department intercepted STARKIE as he was about to commit an armed robbery of a convenience store and sweepstakes location in Greenville.  Upon arresting STARKIE, the arresting officers found him in possession of a semiautomatic pistol. 

STARKIE pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the matter went to trial.  After a trial in January 2014, before Judge Flanagan, a jury found STARKIE guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

As an Armed Career Criminal, with prior convictions for first degree rape and first degree kidnapping, STARKIE faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.  After carefully reviewing STARKIE’S history and characteristics, as well as assessing the nature and circumstances of his offense, Judge Flanagan sentenced STARKIE to serve 300 months (25 years) in federal prison.

“Gary Starkie has a criminal history, punctuated by acts of violence and sexual violence perpetrated against women,” said Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye.  “We are grateful to the jury in New Bern that convicted him and we believe that the tough sentence meted out by Judge Flanagan will ensure that the residents of Greenville and Pitt County will no longer have to suffer the depredations of this violent felon.”

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Greenville Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye represented the government.  United States Attorney Walker commended the work of Keith Sawyer and Brian Negue, the Greenville Police Department officers who apprehended STARKIE.