BLOOMINGTON, IN – John Lee Adams, III., 32, is headed back to federal prison after a high-speed chase and subsequent arrest revealed he was illegally carrying a loaded handgun. Adams was sentenced to 81 months behind bars after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon – a charge compounded by the fact he was already on supervised release for a 2013 armed bank robbery.
The trouble began August 12, 2021, when Bloomington Police Department officers attempted a traffic stop on a Chevy Malibu driven by Adams for multiple violations. Instead of complying, Adams floored it, leading officers on a brief pursuit before ditching the vehicle and fleeing on foot into a wooded area. He didn’t get far. Officers quickly apprehended him.
A search of Adams revealed 3.2 grams of cocaine on his person, but the real problem was tucked away in his bag: a loaded semiautomatic handgun. This wasn’t a first offense. Adams had already served a hefty 104-month sentence for robbing a bank while brandishing a firearm – a crime that should have kept him far from any weapon. His supervised release hadn’t changed that.
“Armed, violent criminals pose a serious danger to our communities,” stated Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners, including ATF and the Bloomington Police Department, to protect the public and reduce gun violence. The sentence imposed here shows that violent criminals who continue to illegally arm themselves will be held accountable.”
Daryl S. McCormick, ATF Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division, echoed that sentiment. “ATF is committed to combating gun violence in our communities,” he said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in Bloomington and throughout Indiana and Ohio to make our communities safer.” The case was a joint effort between ATF and the Bloomington Police Department, and was presided over by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon, who also ordered three years of supervised release following Adams’ prison term.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick G. Gibson prosecuted the case, which falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community engagement. This case highlights PSN’s focus on holding repeat offenders accountable and removing dangerous individuals – and their weapons – from the streets. Adams’ history suggests a clear pattern of violent behavior, and this sentence aims to disrupt it, at least for the next several years.
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
WeaponsWeaponsWeaponsWeapons