Armed Career Criminal Faces 15 Years to Life in Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Kenneth Brooks, 30, of Providence, an armed career criminal, faces a sentence of 15 years to life in federal prison after pleading guilty today, as charged in federal court, to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha. No plea agreement was filed in this case.
At Brooks’ change of plea hearing today before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin told the Court that around 1:00 AM on October 16, 2010, two Providence Police officers observed Brooks at the Chad Brown Housing Development. As the officers operated their vehicle towards Brooks he moved away from the officers while securing an object consistent with that of a firearm in the front of his waistband.
When the officers exited their vehicle and approached Brooks, he complied with their command to put his hands in the air, and admitted to them that he was holding cocaine in his hand and had a firearm in his waistband. The officers arrested Brooks after they seized three bags of cocaine from Brooks' hand and a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol from his waistband.
Brooks, who has been detained since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lisi on November 10, 2011.
A person convicted of a firearms charge after having previously been convicted of three or more crimes of violence or serious drug offenses is deemed by statute to be an armed career criminal, and faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
In September 2002, Brooks was convicted in Rhode Island state court of delivering cocaine and was sentenced to 7 years in prison - 9 months to serve; in January 2005 with larceny from a person and sentenced to 10 years in prison - 3 years to serve; and in February 2009 with delivering cocaine and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment – 21 months to serve.
The matter was investigated by Providence Police with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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