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. The court mandated the forfeiture of a Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol connected to the offense. Lemaine had pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024.
Court records reveal that Lemaine had previous felony convictions in Florida from 2018 and 2019, making him legally prohibited from owning firearms. On May 26, 2023, the Orlando Police Department stopped Lemaine's vehicle and discovered a pistol during their search. DNA evidence linked the firearm to Lemaine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department conducted the investigation into this case, which was prosecuted 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 by uniting law enforcement agencies with communities. The program strives to enhance neighborhood safety through principles such as building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a strategy to reduce violent crime by strengthening PSN based on these core principles.