Hopewell Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm

Azontay Malik Perry, a 27-year-old Hopewell man, has been sentenced to 5 years and 5 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Perry’s downfall began on November 19, 2022, when Hopewell Police officers found him passed out in the driver’s seat of a BMW with the engine running in the intersection of Ashland Street and Oaklawn Boulevard. Despite officers’ commands to exit the vehicle, Perry ignored them and drove into the back of a parked police vehicle. He then attempted to flee at high speed, crashing into a dumpster at an apartment complex before fleeing on foot.

At the scene, officers discovered a .40 caliber handgun on the floor of the vehicle, complete with an extended magazine containing 27 rounds of ammunition. A subsequent search warrant revealed 18 grams of methamphetamine and 10.84 grams of fentanyl.

Perry’s history of crime is not limited to this incident. In 2016, he was convicted of possession of schedule I or II drugs after being caught with narcotics in his vehicle during a traffic stop. He was convicted again later that year of possession of schedule I or II drugs, as well as possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm while in possession of schedule I or II drugs, and monument damage.

In 2019, Perry was convicted of possession of schedule I or II drugs, along with driving on a suspended license. His most recent conviction in 2023 was for a probation violation related to his multiple 2016 convictions for not turning himself in on outstanding warrants and absconding from supervised probation.

As a previously convicted felon, Perry is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His sentencing marks the culmination of a joint effort by federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the Hopewell Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the case and praised the efforts of those who brought Perry to justice.

The case is part of a larger effort to disrupt and dismantle the flow of illegal firearms into the community. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia is committed to holding individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring public safety.

A copy of the press release is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website, along with related court documents and information on the District Court website or through PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-106.

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