Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Boston man was arrested and charged on April 15 with unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm and ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address gun violence and enforce firearms laws in Massachusetts.
Hakeem Cooper, age 21, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Prosecutors allege that on March 17, Cooper was arrested in Brookline, Massachusetts, on a state warrant. During his arrest, law enforcement officers allegedly found a loaded Taurus PT111 Millenium G2 9mm pistol in his waistband containing twelve rounds of ammunition with one round chambered. Due to prior convictions for trafficking controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute a class B controlled substance in Suffolk Superior Court, Cooper is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
If convicted, Cooper faces up to fifteen years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine as high as $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge following the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: "The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." Foley announced the charges along with Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Massachusetts State Police and Brookline Police Department assisted with the investigation while Assistant United States Attorney Allegra Flamm is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts advances community initiatives focused on civil rights protection and violence prevention according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws through prosecution of crimes such as national security threats and civil rights violations according to its official website. It serves all residents across Massachusetts from facilities located at Boston's John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester according to its official website.
Employing over two hundred attorneys, paralegals and professional staff according to its official website, the office handles prosecutions of federal crimes along with civil litigation for the United States government throughout Massachusetts according to its official website. Established originally in 1789 as one of America's earliest such entities according to its official website, it remains part of the United States Department of Justice today according to its official website.
