A Lewiston man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, adding yet another case to the city’s growing list of gun-related incidents at a time when a newly elected city councilor faces indictment on separate firearms charges.
Thirty-five-year-old Kulmiye Abukar Idris received the federal sentence on November 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced. The term will run consecutively to the 42-month state prison sentence Idris is already serving for a 2024 gross sexual assault conviction. He will also serve three years of supervised release.
According to prosecutors, Lewiston police stopped Idris during a traffic stop in January 2025. Officers searched the vehicle and discovered a handgun. Idris was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior felony record.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lewiston Police Department, and the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
Federal officials noted the prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting illegal gun possession and criminal activity.
The sentencing comes amid heightened concern in Lewiston, a city still grappling with persistent gun violence and ongoing community tension. Idris’ case marks another in a long line of firearm-related incidents confronting local law enforcement.
Those concerns were further amplified this week with the indictment of Councilor-elect Iman Osman on federal gun charges, deepening public scrutiny and raising questions about leadership and safety in Maine’s second-largest city.
Authorities said more information on the Idris investigation may be released as appropriate.
