Gregory Coleman III, a 29-year-old resident of Leesburg, Florida, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber after Coleman pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Court records indicate that Coleman had previously been convicted of four state felonies: aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and possession of cocaine. Despite these convictions, on November 4, 2023, Coleman sold a firearm to a confidential source who was cooperating with federal agents. During the transaction, Coleman told the source he possessed additional firearms but intended to keep them for himself. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Eustis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe stated: “This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.” He added: “On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.”
