Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 2, 2017 – Calvin Starks, 23, of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court, to a series of federal crimes including using a firearm to commit a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and extortion; and conspiracy to tamper with a witness, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith of the Middle District of Tennessee.

According to charging documents and the plea agreement, Starks and his cousin, Darryl Starks, were responsible for shooting Joshua Woods on October 16, 2014, in the J.C. Napier neighborhood.  They fired a total of 16 rounds during the assault and Woods was treated at a local hospital and survived the gunshots.  After Woods had identified the Starks’ as the shooters, he was later threatened and bribed by Darryl Stark’s mother, Ivy Starks, in an attempt to prevent him from testifying truthfully in subsequent court proceedings.

On November 26, 2014, Starks and Terrance Kimbrough planned and carried out a robbery of Brendon Leggs, aka “Beazy.”  They approached him at a market on Lewis St., near the J.C. Napier neighborhood and attempted to rob Leggs of drugs and money. As Leggs attempted to drive away, they opened fire on him and Leggs died from gunshot wounds shortly thereafter.  The 9mm bullet casings recovered from this shooting matched casings from an incident on November 23, 2014, where a car occupied by 3 people was shot at.  Starks was also involved in that shooting.

In the days following the Leggs shooting, Starks and Kimbrough searched for an individual named Monte Watson, whom they believed saw them kill Leggs and feared he would report that to law enforcement.  On December 1, 2014, Starks was arrested for cocaine possession and during a subsequent recorded jail phone call, Starks made statements about Watson being a “snitch” and discussed their attempt to find him and silence him.  On December 3, 2014, Monte Watson was shot and killed near Lewis and Robertson St., in close proximity to the J.C. Napier housing development.  Terrance Kimbrough is currently charged with the murder of Monte Watson as well as attempted robbery and killing of Brandon Leggs.

Ivy Starks and Darryl Starks have previously pleaded guilty to charges related to this case and are awaiting sentencing.  Terrance Kimbrough is awaiting trial.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy is prosecuting the case.

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