A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to four years and five months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Court documents state that on February 16, 2024, police officers from Norfolk and Portsmouth stopped Joshaua Sheimel Anderson, 25, during a traffic stop in Norfolk due to outstanding warrants. During the arrest, detectives searched Anderson’s backpack and found a handgun fitted with a machine gun conversion device and a 31-round extended magazine. Authorities also seized over one and a half pounds of suspected marijuana, several jars of suspected THC wax, and more than $2,200 in cash.
Anderson had prior convictions for grand larceny, felony eluding, hit and run, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Because of these previous convictions, he was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
The sentencing announcement was made by 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.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.
“This press release is also available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia’s website here.”
