Violent Crime Spree in J.C. Napier Neighborhood Results in 35 Year Prison Sentence for Nashville Man

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 28, 2017 – Calvin Starks, 23, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for 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.

Starks pleaded guilty in June of this year and his crime spree included the shooting of two people in 2014, in and around the J.C. Napier neighborhood.

Starks and his cousin, Darryl Starks shot Joshua Woods on October 16, 2014, while in the J.C. Napier neighborhood. During this assault, they fired a total of 16 rounds. Woods survived the assault and after identifying the Starks’ as the shooters, he was threatened and bribed by the Starks’ mother, Ivy Starks, in an attempt to prevent him from testifying truthfully at subsequent court proceedings.

On November 26, 2014, Starks and Terrance Kimbrough planned to rob Brendon Leggs of drugs and money at a market on Lewis St., near the J.C. Napier neighborhood. During the robbery attempt, Leggs was shot multiple times as he tried to flee and later died from his wounds.

On December 3, 2014, Monte Watson was shot and killed by Terrance Kimbrough, near Lewis and Robertson St., in close proximity to the J.C. Napier neighborhood. Prior to this shooting, Calvin Starks and Kimbrough had looked for Watson in order to keep him from cooperating with law enforcement because they believed he may have seen them kill Brendon Leggs.

Ivy Starks pleaded guilty in July 2017 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Darryl Starks has also pleaded guilty to charges related to this case and is 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.