A Lewiston man has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents show that in January 2025, Lewiston police stopped a vehicle driven by Kulmiye Abukar Idris, 35, for traffic violations. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a handgun. Idris was not allowed to have 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 its presentence investigative report. The final sentence will be decided by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewiston Police Department led the investigation with help from the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to address violent crime and gun violence and improve neighborhood safety. In May 2021, the Department introduced an updated strategy for PSN focused on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
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