A 21-year-old man from Lee County, identified as Caleb Frank Hamm, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for the illegal possession of a loaded firearm, as announced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. Hamm, previously convicted on a felony charge, pleaded guilty to the charges on May 24.
Documents from the court detail the incident that led to Hamm's arrest on September 15, 2023, when a deputy pulled over Hamm's vehicle, suspecting him of impaired driving due to alcohol; following the DUI arrest, a search of Hamm's vehicle revealed a Glock-style 9mm handgun, loaded, not serialized, and outfitted with a high-capacity magazine and an illegal machinegun conversion device, totality encompassing weapons Hamm should not have had access to as a felon and state probationer.
This conviction underpins the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide program designed with the intent of reducing violent crime and illegal gun ownership, as stressed by federal enforcement agencies and local law enforcement working collaboratively to foster safer communities; this strategy also emphasizes preventive measures and strategic enforcement, supported by community-based organizations.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation of Hamm’s case, with Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth handling the prosecution.
