An Orleans County man, who authorities say has been linked to gun and drug distribution in the area

 An Orleans County man, who authorities say has been linked to gun and drug distribution in the area in recent months, was ordered jailed Monday on two federal felony gun charges. Jeremy Starr, 46, is charged with illegal possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon and for knowingly possessing a firearm when he was an unlawful user of controlled substances, according to federal court records. ATF, with help from Newport Police and the U.S. Border Patrol found Starr at 34 Orchard Street in Newport on Friday. Starr has felony convictions for possession of controlled substances in Oakland, Calif,  he also has a conviction for illegal possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon in Florida, and he also has a felony conviction for driving while under the influence, third offense in Orleans County. Orleans Deputy Sheriff Dan Locke said the case with Starr began when the officer tried unsuccessfully to stop the suspect for speeding on Vermont 105 in North Troy on Nov. 5. The deputy asked if there were any weapons in the car and Starr responded that he only had a knife.

As Locke started to walked back to his police cruiser, he noticed a shotgun in plain view on the rear seat which appeared to be loaded with ammunition.

Starr said he didn’t know the shotgun was there. Locke said he seized the 12-gauge pump-action shotgun later found Starr was carrying a glass smoking pipe. Locke said he took Starr into custody for suspected driving while under the influence. A blood test showed Starr had fentanyl and cocaine in his system.