Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Kenneth Brooks, 31, of Providence, R.I., declared by the court to being an armed career criminal, was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi also ordered Brooks to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to information presented to the court, in October 2010, Brooks was approached by two Providence Police officers at the Chad Brown Housing Development. As the officers operated their vehicle towards Brooks, he moved away from the officers while securing a firearm in the front of his waistband. When the officers exited their vehicle and approached Brooks, he admitted to them that he was holding cocaine in his hand and had a firearm in his waistband. Officers arrested Brooks and seized three bags of cocaine and a loaded .22 caliber semi–automatic pistol.

In September 2002, Brooks was convicted in Rhode Island state court of trafficking cocaine and was sentenced to 7 years in state prison – 9 months to serve; in January 2005 he was convicted of larceny from a person and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison – 3 years to serve; and in February 2009 Brooks was convicted of trafficking cocaine and was sentenced to 8 years in state prison – 21 months to serve.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin. The matter was investigated by the Providence Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.