43-year-old Richmond man sentenced to 5 years for firearm possession

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond man was sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, May 21, 43-year-old James Marvin Smith of Richmond was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

Based on Department of Justice (DOJ) court documents, Richmond Police detectives conducted a traffic stop on a car without a front license plate on March 16, 2023, and Smith was driving the car.

During the stop, the detectives noticed a crinkled lottery ticket near the cupholders and discovered that the passenger had a white powder substance on his nose, which prompted them to ask both occupants to step out of the car.

While detectives searched the car for drug evidence, one of them found a firearm with a detached extended magazine. According to DOJ, the firearm had one round of ammunition in the chamber and 21 rounds of ammunition loaded in the magazine.

Before his arrest, Smith was previously convicted of possession of heroin, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest with force, possession of cocaine, breaking and entering, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, robbery, unlawful wounding, illegal possession of a firearm, assault and battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted violent felon and grand larceny.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, where all levels of law enforcement work together to reduce violent crimes and gun violence in neighborhoods.