Career offender sentenced to over 21 years in prison for latest drug and firearms conviction

RICHMOND, Va. - An Essex County man was sentenced today to 21 years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on Jan. 24, law enforcement officers encountered Duwan Jeremy Sumiel, 38, apparently unconscious in the driver seat of his truck with the engine running. After waking Sumiel, the officers observed an open container of alcohol in the truck's center console. After a preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol content of .201, Sumiel was taken into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol. At the time, Sumiel possessed a bag of cocaine and $391 in cash.

The officers conducted an inventory search of the truck and found a loaded handgun equipped with a 30-round magazine and a backpack that contained several baggies of cocaine and cocaine base, $8,000 in cash, and a second loaded handgun equipped with a 17-round magazine.

Sumiel has two prior convictions for distribution of controlled substances as well as convictions for driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, and eluding police. As a previously convicted felon, Sumiel cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter S. Duffey and Patrick W. Dorgan prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-50.