Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – An East Bridgewater man who possessed an assault weapon and ammunition has been sent to State Prison, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
James Kolozie, 32, of East Bridgewater, pled guilty today in Brockton Superior Court to one count each of Unlawful Possession of an Assault Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Weapon, Possession of Ammunition Without a FID Card, Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm, and 19 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine. Judge Robert Sullivan sentenced Kolozie to serve one to 1 ½ years in State Prison, to be followed by three years of supervised probation.
In April, 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives followed up on a lead that the Defendant had purchased a stolen firearm component online. Assisted by the East Bridgewater Police Department, an ATF agent conducted an interview with Kolozie at his apartment on Central Street, East Bridgewater. During the interview, investigators noted that Kolozie was unlawfully in possession of ammunition, which was plainly visible inside his apartment. Based on those observations and subsequent statements made by Kolozie, a search warrant for his apartment was sought and obtained by investigators. A fully assembled but unsecured AR15-style rifle, multiple large capacity feeding devices, unassembled firearm components, and ammunition was found as a result. Kolozie, who was unlicensed to possess firearms or ammunition, was placed under arrest.
“As always, we are grateful for the efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners,” DA Cruz said. “Thanks to the unparalleled partnerships between our office, the United States Attorney’s Office, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and our partners in the community, we have made taking firearms out of the hands of those who illegally possess them here a top priority, and Plymouth County is safer for it. Special thanks to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Bridgewater Police Department for their unwavering investigative efforts.”
Assistant District Attorney Joseph Janezic prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF and East Bridgewater Police.