A Brockton man with a previous felony conviction has been sentenced to time served, which equates to a single day, and is set to undergo three years of supervised release after being found in possession of a firearm and ammunition, federal authorities announced. Michael Whitfield, the 43-year-old defendant, pled guilty in June of this year after a November 2023 indictment, admitting to his unauthorized possession of a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition, a direct violation of the law prohibiting felons from having firearms or ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The circumstances leading to Whitfield's arrest began on March 6, 2023, when law enforcement responded to an automobile accident in Brockton, where they discovered significant damage to Whitfield’s vehicle, with airbags deployed and a broken passenger door window, inside the vehicle officers encountered a strong odor of alcohol accompanied by an empty tequila bottle on the passenger seat floor, simultaneously, a Glock 19X 9mm pistol loaded with ammunition ominously laid on the driver’s side floorboard, nestled between the man’s legs. This possession led to the chain of events culminating in the federal indictment and Whitfield's subsequent guilty plea.
Contrary to the government's recommendation of a two-year prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs opted for a sentence that would see Whitfield released based on the time he had already served. The conditions of his supervised release have not been specified, but they typically include a combination of restrictions, aimed at helping Whitfield reintegrate into society while preventing further legal infractions.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division emphasized the collaborative effort between federal and local agencies including the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police Department, and the Brockton Fire Department, that led to this sentencing; the Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm from the Major Crimes Unit was recognized for his role in prosecuting the case
