U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Chadwick Lemaine, a 26-year-old resident of Ocoee, Florida, to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of a Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol involved in the offense. Lemaine had previously entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024.
Court records indicate that Lemaine was previously convicted of felony offenses in Florida during 2018 and 2019, which prohibited him from legally possessing firearms. On May 26, 2023, officers from the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop involving Lemaine and discovered a pistol during their search of his vehicle. Subsequent analysis confirmed that Lemaine's DNA was present on the firearm.
The investigation into this case was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Department of Justice launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy under PSN on May 26, 2021, emphasizing principles such as fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention efforts by community-based organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.
