Detroit Man Sentenced to Over Ten Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

DETROIT – A Detroit man, who shot at a victim during the course of a robbery, was sentenced to  over ten years in prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

Joshua Fordham, 30 was sentenced to 121 months in prison after having pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm before United States District Judge David M. Lawson in February 2024.

According to court records, in February 2023, Fordham followed a man out of a deli in Detroit. Surveillance video captured Fordham following the man to the parking lot, where Fordham took the man’s wallet at gunpoint. The man, who had a concealed pistol license, shot at Fordham, striking Fordham in the chest. Fordham fired a shot back at the man but did not strike him. Fordham was a convicted felon at the time and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

“This defendant’s actions put everyone in that public parking lot in serious danger that day, and we are fortunate that no one was killed,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Today’s sentence appropriately reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct, and  our continued commitment to keep our community safe by removing the drivers of violence.”

"Mr. Fordham, a convicted felon, demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law by possessing an illegal firearm which enabled him to carry out a violent attack against the victim outside a Detroit establishment," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "His sentencing significantly contributes to reducing the number of violent crimes in Michigan involving illegal weapons. I commend the FBI's Detroit Violent Gang Task Force for their outstanding commitment to apprehending offenders who continue to terrorize our communities with illegally possessed firearms."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.