Buckeye Reporter

A Cleveland man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to robbing a confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) during a firearms investigation.

Carl P. Lewis, 28, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker following his guilty plea in May to charges including robbery of mail, money or other property of the United States; using or carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm due to previous robbery convictions from 2016.

In addition to the prison term, Lewis was ordered to serve five years of supervised release after completing his sentence.

Court documents state that in October 2024, an ATF confidential informant exchanged text messages with Lewis regarding the sale of several firearms. The two arranged to meet at a designated location for the transaction. Upon arrival, Lewis demanded $2,500 cash from the informant for the firearms. When asked by the informant to see the weapons before handing over payment, Lewis retrieved them from inside a home but then became agitated and threatened violence.

As they struggled over control of the firearms, another individual emerged from inside the residence and pointed a pistol equipped with a laser at the informant. Lewis forcibly took $2,500 cash from him against his will. The incident was captured on video. Authorities later arrested Lewis on a federal criminal complaint and found him in possession of one rifle and two pistols.

The case was investigated by ATF agents and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly L. Galvin.

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