Rocky Mount Rocky Mount Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

ROANOKE, Va. -A Rocky Mount, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 40 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Hasan Ali Muhammed, 61, a.k.a. "Paul Burwell," pled guilty in August 2026 to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, at approximately 4 p.m. on October 23, 2022, T.N. contacted the Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) to report a trespassing on behalf of her friend, V.L. According to T.N., two men were on V.L.'s property and that V.L. felt threatened. The caller told deputies the two men were V.L.'s uncles, Jack and Paul Burwell - a.k.a. Muhammed. Deputies with FCSO spoke to V.L. who indicated that her uncle was wanted by the "feds." FCSO deputies confirmed with the U.S. Marshals Service that Muhammed was wanted on an active warrant for bulk cash smuggling out of Florida.

Later in the evening, V.L. again called FCSO and reported that Muhammed was knocking at her basement door. FCSO quickly responded to V.L.'s home. Working with the Virginia State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service, FCSO used a drone and other law enforcement methods to locate Muhammed in a culvert pipe where he was eventually taken into custody.

At the time of his arrest, Muhammed was found in possession of $12,000 in case and a birth certificate belonging to another person. The following day, officers found a Glock 21 with an extra magazine and a shotgun ammo belt with shotgun shells that appeared to be concealed under mud and water in the culvert pipe.

The investigation was conducted by the Frankling County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Virginia State Police

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci made the announcement.