BOSTON, Sept. 18, 2013—A Quincy man caught with a stolen handgun declared his love for the disgraced former chemist he credited for his early release from prison as he and a companion were arrested over the weekend, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

SHAKI MUHAMMED (D.O.B.  5/12/86) of Norwood and JAMELL T. SPURILL (D.O.B. 7/28/82) of Quincy were arrested Sunday and in Roxbury and arraigned Monday in Roxbury District Court.

Muhammed is charged with receiving stolen property over $250, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, driving without an inspection sticker, and as a Level II armed career criminal based on separate convictions in 2006 for distribution of a Class B substance and possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance.

Spurill is charged with receiving stolen property over $250, unlawful possession of a firearm as a second or subsequent offense, and unlawful possession of ammunition as a second or subsequent offense. He was additionally charged as a Level III armed career criminal based on his prior record.

Spurill was convicted in Plymouth Superior Court in 2011 of possession of a Class C substance, trafficking in cocaine, and violating the state’s drug laws in a school zone. His three-year sentence was stayed late last year and dismissed earlier this year due to allegations of misconduct against Annie Dookhan, a former Department of Public Health chemist now under indictment for malfeasance at a state drug testing facility. Spurill was also convicted of possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance in 2010; unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition in 2008; assault and battery in 2003, 2005, and 2006; and assault in 2000.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Roseme requested that Spurill’s bail be set at $100,000 and Muhammed’s at $50,000.  Judge John McDonald set Spurill’s bail at $50,000 and Muhammed’s at $15,000. Both defendants were also ordered to abide by curfews and stay away from the scene of their arrests if they post bail.

According to prosecutors, Boston Police officers pulled over a vehicle in the area of Circuit and Fountain streets at about 9:00 Sunday morning after observing that it had an expired inspection sticker and learning through a query of the license plate that its registered owner, Muhammed, had a suspended driver’s license. They ordered both Muhammad – who was behind the wheel – and her passenger, Spurill, out of the vehicle.

Officers undertook a routine inventory of the vehicle in anticipation of it being towed from the scene.  During the search, officers discovered in the glove box a Walther P99c AS 9mm handgun loaded with six rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, prosecutors said.  Officers later learned that the gun had previously been reported stolen.

Muhammed and Spurill were both placed in handcuffs.  When officers requested her license to carry a firearm, Muhammed allegedly asked, “What’s that?”

Spurill told police that he did not have a license to carry, prosecutors said.

Additional officers arrived on scene and placed Spurill in the rear of a police cruiser, where he allegedly made post-Miranda statements informing police, “I just got out thanks to Annie Dookhan.  I love that lady.”

Spurill is represented by William Roa.  Muhammed is represented by Joshua Raisler-Cohen.  Both are expected to return to court on Oct. 11.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.