A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to four years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing took place in Norfolk federal court.
Court documents state that on February 16, 2024, officers from the Norfolk Police and Portsmouth Police stopped Joshaua Sheimel Anderson, 25, during a traffic stop and arrested him on outstanding warrants. During a search of Anderson’s backpack, detectives found a handgun with a machine gun conversion device and a 31-round extended magazine. Authorities also recovered more than one and a half pounds of suspected marijuana, several jars of suspected THC wax, and over $2,200 in cash.
Anderson had previous convictions for grand larceny, felony eluding, hit and run, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As someone with these prior convictions, he is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
The 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 after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
Information about this press release can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia as well as related court documents available through the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or PACER under Case No. 2:25-cr-40.
