NORFOLK, Va. – In a gritty blow against gun crime in the Old Dominion, Joshua Sheimel Anderson, 25, of Portsmouth, was today sentenced to four years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from an incident on February 16, 2024, where Norfolk and Portsmouth police officers stopped Anderson during a traffic stop on outstanding warrants.
During the stop, detectives discovered a loaded handgun with a machine gun conversion device and a 31-round extended magazine in Anderson’s backpack. Over a pound and a half of suspected marijuana, multiple jars of THC wax, and over $2,200 were also seized.
Anderson’s rap sheet includes convictions for grand larceny, felony eluding, hit and run, and prior possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, making the latest offense illegal under Virginia law. The judge’s sentence reflects the severity of the crime and Anderson’s repeated disregard for firearms laws.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, were among those who announced the sentence after it was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. The sentencing is part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eradicating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
The case files are available on the websites of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, or through PACER using Case No. 2:25-cr-40.
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Related Federal Cases
- Portsmouth Felon Sentenced to Over Four Years for Gun Possession · Washington
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- Norman Baynard Sentenced for Felon Firearm Possession in Norfolk · Washington
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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