Richmond Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years for Firearm Possession

State of VA - A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing follows an incident earlier this year involving a routine traffic stop.

According to court documents, a Richmond Police officer discovered Raheem Bennie Smith, 44, also known as "Too-Too," on Jan. 11, 2025. Smith was found asleep at the wheel of a vehicle stopped at a Richmond intersection.

The car was running and in gear at the time. The officer woke Smith by tapping on the window and instructed him to put the vehicle in park.

During the interaction, the officer noticed a firearm on the front passenger seat. Smith was instructed not to reach for the weapon. A second officer arrived at the scene, opened the passenger door, and recovered a loaded handgun. Smith was subsequently arrested. A search revealed cocaine in his possession.

Smith's criminal history prohibits him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. Previous convictions include possession of cocaine, eluding police, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and second-degree murder.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Richmond Police Department. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover.

This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime in communities nationwide.