Ocala, FL – A Leesburg man, Gregory Coleman III, 28, has been arrested following an indictment accusing him of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If found guilty, Coleman could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
Coleman’s criminal history includes four state felony convictions: aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting law enforcement with violence, fleeing or attempting to elude, and possession of cocaine. Despite these convictions, Coleman allegedly sold a firearm on November 4, 2023, to a confidential source cooperating with federal law enforcement. During the transaction, Coleman reportedly mentioned having additional firearms, which he intended to keep.
Under federal law, convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. An indictment serves as a formal charge that a defendant has violated federal criminal law, but it does not imply guilt. All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Eustis Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime. The operation integrates resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
