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 show 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, Coleman sold a firearm to a confidential source working with federal agents on November 4, 2023. During the transaction, Coleman indicated he had additional firearms but intended to keep them for himself. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eustis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. In May 2021, the Department introduced an updated strategy for PSN that emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations focused on violence prevention, prioritizing targeted enforcement efforts, and tracking outcomes.
