A Lewiston resident, Kulmiye Abukar Idris, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The plea was entered on Tuesday.
Court records state that in January 2025, Lewiston police stopped a vehicle driven by Idris for traffic violations. During the stop, officers searched the vehicle and found a handgun. Idris was not allowed to possess a firearm due to a previous felony conviction for gross sexual assault.
Idris could face up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing will take place after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigative report. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lewiston Police Department, with support from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence, focusing enforcement efforts strategically, and measuring outcomes. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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