Richmond Felon Lavelle Allen Sentenced for Illegal Gun Possession

A Richmond felon has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm, authorities announced.

Walter Lavelle Allen, 25, of Richmond, was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol under his leg while asleep in a parked vehicle on August 3, 2023. Richmond Police were alerted to the firearm after observing Allen display it in an Instagram story earlier that evening.

Allen’s arrest came after a conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine on June 23, 2020. As a previously convicted felon, Allen is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck sentenced Allen following a prosecution led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman. The case was part of a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Richmond Police Department, led by Chief Rick Edwards, also played a key role in the investigation and arrest of Allen.

Allen’s sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of violating federal firearms laws. The case highlights the importance of law enforcement agencies working together to keep communities safe and hold individuals accountable for their actions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Richmond Police Department have announced the sentencing of Walter Lavelle Allen, 25, of Richmond, to two years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A copy of this press release is available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-121.