BOSTON — A federal trial jury convicted a Brockton man who was a major player in the drug markets of New Bedford and other Southeastern Massachusetts communities on charges of possessing crack cocaine, powdered cocaine and ammunition. State and Brockton police arrested Paul Hicks Jr., a convicted felon, after hearing that he had been dealing crack in Brockton and other areas. When they raided his apartment, they found him in his bedroom after having just emerged from the shower, near a night stand that contained assorted handgun ammunition and magazines. In his basement, they discovered about 21 grams of crack and 125 grams of powdered cocaine hidden in the legs of a weight bench. The drugs had a total estimated street value of $13,000. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of a federal or state felony from possessing firearms or ammunition. Mr. Hicks claimed he lived with his parents at another address and knew nothing of the drugs or ammunition. Mr. Hicks' mother, Rose Marie Hicks, a state trooper, testified on his behalf at his trial, saying he was living with her when his apartment was searched. A jury still found him guilty. He now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison. Mr. Hicks has two brothers currently under indictment on drug charges. The office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz forwarded Mr. Hicks' case to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution as part of the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which aims to impact gun violence by making the prosecution of firearms cases a top priority. "The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative is designed to catch the biggest fish," Assistant U.S. Attorney John Mitchell said. "Paul Hicks was a big fish in Brockton and Southeastern Massachusetts." Prosecutors from both Plymouth County and Bristol County have extolled the benefits of sending cases to the federal level, where defendants face much longer sentences and, if convicted, are pulled away from their communities to far-off, federal prisons.
Contact Rob Margetta at rmargetta@s-t.com Date of Publication: October 21, 2006 on Page A03
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