Brockton Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Illegal Firearm Possession

BOSTON – A Brockton man was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Foster L. Starks, Jr., 54, of Brockton, was convicted following a week-long jury trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Oct. 28, 2015.

On May 24, 2009, at 11:05 p.m., Starks was stopped by a Massachusetts State Police Trooper for a marked lanes violation while driving on Route 24 North in Raynham.  Starks was arrested after the Trooper discovered that he was driving with a suspended license.  The vehicle needed to be towed, and prior to towing, the Trooper was required to conduct a search of the contents of the vehicle.  While performing the search, the Trooper found a shopping bag on the front passenger seat containing a .45 caliber handgun loaded with seven bullets.  The shopping bag also contained two boxes of additional ammunition and four bottles containing prescription medications.  Starks has numerous prior convictions for various violent crimes, including armed robbery, and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Daniel J. Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David G. Tobin and Jordi de Llano of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.