Paul Eric Sherrod Parham, Gun Possession, Virginia 2019

Paul Eric Sherrod Parham, a 38-year-old Newport News man with seven prior felony convictions, pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm—a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm semiautomatic handgun—while under active warrants for abduction, larceny, assault and battery, and credit card fraud.

The arrest unfolded on the evening of September 18, 2019, near 36th Street and Chestnut Avenue, after a civilian with knowledge of Parham’s criminal history and outstanding warrants tipped off Newport News Police to his exact location. Officers moved in swiftly, confirming Parham’s identity and felony status before he verbally disclosed he was carrying the loaded weapon.

Court documents reveal Parham made no attempt to flee or resist but admitted to carrying the firearm unlawfully—a federal offense given his status as a convicted felon. Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Parham is scheduled for sentencing on January 4, 2021, before Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who accepted the guilty plea.

While federal sentences often fall below the statutory maximum, prosecutors emphasized that Parham’s repeated criminal conduct places him squarely in the crosshairs of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s aggressive initiative targeting gun violence and illegal firearm possession. The program amplifies federal-state coordination and prioritizes prosecution of high-risk offenders.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, called the case a textbook example of Project Guardian in action. “A seven-time felon walking the streets with a loaded gun is a public safety time bomb. We’re not looking away.” ATF Washington Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict and Newport News Police Chief Steve R. Drew echoed the sentiment, praising the civilian tip that prevented potential violence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf is prosecuting the case. Court records, including Case No. 4:20-cr-009, are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has published the official press release on its website, underscoring the federal crackdown on repeat violent offenders wielding illegal firearms.

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