A Newport News man who was caught with a loaded handgun during a 2023 traffic stop has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by nine months of electronically monitored home confinement.
Federal prosecutors said 34-year-old Carl Henry Coleman III was stopped by Newport News Police on Feb. 8, 2023, after officers observed him driving more than 70 mph in a 45 mph zone while weaving through traffic.
According to court records, neither Coleman nor his passenger had a valid driver’s license. As officers prepared to have the vehicle towed, they conducted an inventory search and found a backpack on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat. Inside was a loaded handgun, along with Coleman’s Social Security card and bank card.
Because of his criminal history, Coleman was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Court documents show Coleman previously faced federal prosecution at age 21 for making false statements to law enforcement about the location of a murder weapon connected to a gang-related double homicide. In 2016, he was also convicted of threatening to kill and physically assault another person.
Federal law bars convicted felons from possessing firearms, and prosecutors argued that Coleman knowingly violated that prohibition.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office with assistance from the Newport News Police Department. The sentence was handed down in federal court today.
The case highlights how routine traffic enforcement can uncover more serious criminal violations, particularly involving prohibited firearm possession. Federal authorities continue to prioritize firearm cases involving repeat offenders and individuals with prior felony convictions.