News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2003

Springfield Man Pleads Convicted of Firearms Offenses

SEPT 23--Springfield, MA…A Springfield man was convicted on September 19, 2003, in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and United States Attorney Michael Sullivan announced that Darryl PETLOCK, age 26, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

At the plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that, had the case proceeded to trail, the Government's evidence would have proven that on January 28, 2002, detectives from the West Springfield Police Department were conducting a surveillance of individuals using a hotel for possible drug and prostitution violations. They approached an individual, Eric Smith, who entered a room, remained for approximately 15 minutes and was leaving the room carrying a black brief case. When the police asked him what was in the bag he handed it to one of the detectives, said it did not belong to him and got into the passenger side of the car. When the detective opened the brief case he observed several small bags of marijuana packaged for sale. The detectives ordered Smith and the driver of the car, PETLOCK, out of the car. PETLOCK was carrying a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun and the passenger was carrying a loaded 9-mm semi-automatic handgun.

Judge Ponsor scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2004. PETLOCK faces up to 15 years' imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $ 2 million fine.

The case was investigated by the Springfield DEA Task Force.

Press Contact: Anthony J. Pettigrew, (617) 557-2138