Willie Starks, Gun Possession, Mississippi 2023

JACKSON, Miss. – Willie Roger Starks Jr., 30, of Bellamy, Alabama, is headed to federal prison for nearly two years after being caught with a loaded weapon despite a lengthy criminal history. Starks was sentenced to 21 months behind bars this week for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a charge carrying significant penalties under federal law.

The case unfolded on October 27, 2019, when a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled Starks over for a routine traffic stop. The stop quickly turned up more than just a traffic violation: a .40 caliber pistol was discovered inside the vehicle. What made the find criminal wasn’t the gun itself, but who was holding it.

Court records reveal Starks wasn’t just any driver; he’s a convicted felon with a prior burglary of a dwelling conviction. Even more damning, he was currently under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time of the traffic stop. Federal law strictly prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms, a rule Starks knowingly broke.

After being indicted by a federal grand jury, Starks eventually pled guilty on March 14, 2023, to the single charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea didn’t spare him from significant time, as U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pushed for a substantial sentence.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF, highlighting the collaborative approach to tackling gun crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing.

Federal officials emphasize that this case is part of the broader Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community-based prevention programs. The PSN program focuses on the most dangerous offenders, hoping to create lasting reductions in crime rates and make communities safer.

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