District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Felon Charged with Possession of Firearm Following Arrest in SoutheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rhondell Williams, 38, of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Williams is charged in an indictment unsealed in federal court with three charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
According to court documents, on April 4, 2025, MPD officers observed an individual, later identified as the defendant, holding an open bottle of tequila in the 2800 block of Pomeroy Road SE. Upon approaching Williams, officers discovered the open container of alcohol and subsequently arrested him. During the arrest, it is alleged that a search revealed that Williams was also in possession of a concealed, loaded 9mm semi-automatic "ghost gun" with no serial number.
Further investigation revealed that Williams does not possess a permit to carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., and has a prior conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department.
View Williams indictment here.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Repeat Sex Offender Gets Sentenced for an Attack on a Stranger in the Victim’s HomeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Niko Cherry, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in Superior Court to 30 months in prison for the sexual assault of a stranger. This sentence will run consecutive to a 64-month sentence Cherry received on April 9th for an assault in August of 2024. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On December 20, 2024, Cherry pleaded guilty to one count of attempted second-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree sexual abuse for the August 3, 2024 assault. On April 9, 2025, he was sentenced for that assault and, today, he was sentenced for a probation violation in connection with a previous sexual assault for a total prison term of 94 months. Cherry must also serve five years of supervised release and register for life as a sex offender in the District of Columbia.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on August 3, 2024, the victim was awakened by an unknown individual when she felt something against her left thigh, which she realized was his erect penis. She then felt the person’s body pressing against the back of her. She jumped out of bed and went into her bathroom. When she came out, the defendant was gone and the door was ajar. The following Sunday morning, the victim received flowers with a note that said, “cuddle buddy” and “text me!” with a particular number. She then reported what had occurred to the police on August 5, 2024. An undercover officer started communication in September with that number, Cherry replied around September 15, 2024, corroborating some details of the assault. The defendant agreed to meet up with the victim on October 10, 2024, and was arrested on probable cause. The defendant’s GPS monitor, which he was required to wear as a condition of his release related to his prior conviction, tracked him following the victim to her house, returning to his home, and then returning about a half hour later to her home and leaving her home about an hour and a half after that.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim Advocate Lezlie Richardson, Supervisory Information Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, who worked on various exhibits for the case, and Interns Youssef Wahba and Haniyyah Zia, of the Sexual Offense and Domestic Violence Unit.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section, who prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of GlockRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Damani Lamont Carmon, 31, of the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for being in possession of a Glock firearm when he was pulled over by police during an April 2024 traffic stop.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Carmon pleaded guilty on Dec. 6, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Carmon to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court papers, on April 30, 2024, uniformed MPD officers were patrolling the 1800 block of Benning Road Northeast when they stopped Carmon’s vehicle for a traffic violation. After observing an open container of tequila in the vehicle, officers searched the car and recovered from its center console a Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. Subsequent DNA testing and analysis linked the firearm to Carmon.
Federal law prohibits Carmon from possessing a firearm because he is a previously convicted felon. Specifically, in 2021, Carmon was convicted in Superior Court of assault with intent to kill and carrying a pistol without a license, arising from a 2019 shooting at a gas station in Washington, D.C. Carmon was on supervised release for that offense at the time he possessed the firearm charged in this case.
Carmon has been held without bond since his Oct. 1, 2024, arrest.
The case was investigated by ATF and MPD as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Craft with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Kyle R. Mirabelli.
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KDY Crew Member Sentenced to 180 Months for Armed Carjacking and Marijuana DistributionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jovan Terrell Williams, 20, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180-months in federal prison in connection with the November 2023 armed carjacking of a Chevrolet Corvette and for his participation in the Kennedy Street Crew drug trafficking conspiracy.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Washington Field Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Williams, aka “Chewy,” pleaded guilty on September 5, 2024, to carjacking while armed and conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilos of marijuana. In addition to the 180-month prison term, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Williams to serve five years of supervised release.
Williams is the last of 17 KDY members to be sentenced in this case. Yesterday, on April 17, co-defendant and KDY leader Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga, 29, was sentenced to 160 months in prison.
According to court documents, Williams was a member of the Kennedy Street Crew, a violent drug trafficking organization which operated open-air drug markets on an 11-block stretch of Kennedy Street in Northwest, as well as surrounding streets. Like many drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), KDY armed itself with fire power to facilitate the drug trade, defend its territory from rival crews, and commit other violent crimes. Following a takedown operation in June 2023, most defendants charged by indictment for their roles in the KDY DTO were apprehended. Williams, however, remained a fugitive for months.
On November 17, 2023, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Williams—while still a fugitive—carjacked an individual at gunpoint on the 1800 block of Half Street, SW, stealing the victim’s 2021 Chevrolet Corvette. Williams was armed and wearing a ski mask when he and two associates ran from stolen Audi and Lexus sedans and advanced towards the owner of the Corvette, who knelt in surrender.
While pointing a gun at the car owner, Williams took the keys to the Corvette, a Tesla key attached to an Apple Air Tag, and Apple Air Pods. Williams and his associates then drove away in the stolen cars. Approximately 40 minutes later, the stolen Audi and Lexus were used in an armed robbery of three individuals on 8th and P Streets NW.
Later that evening, at 9:53 p.m., law enforcement tracked the Apple Air Tag stolen from the carjacking victim to an apartment building on the 4700 block of Benning Road NE. Officers found and arrested Williams and two associates in the building’s laundry room. Following the arrests, officers recovered a “ghost gun” from inside a washing machine. In a hole in the laundry room’s ceiling, officers found three more concealed firearms: a black pistol, a black Glock 19 with an obliterated serial number, and another black pistol outfitted with a “switch” that would allow it to fire as a machine gun.
Earlier that year, on January 26, 2023, law enforcement executing a residential search warrant encountered Williams along with several other KDY crew members on the 1700 block of D Street, NE. Also in the residence, law enforcement recovered 10 firearms, assorted ammunition, 21 kilos of marijuana packed in suitcases, and 40 grams of fentanyl-laced pills. The firearms included a privately manufactured AR-style .223 caliber pistol (a ghost gun) modified to fire as a machine gun, and a Draco 7.62 x 39mm pistol. DNA profiles obtained from both firearms linked both weapons to Williams, who acknowledged that he possessed them in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.
This investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by ATF’s Washington Field Division, the Metropolitan Police Department, the DEA’s Washington Division, and the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the IRS-Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Office.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Sitara Witanachchi of the of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
KDY DEFENDANTS
NAME
AGE
SENTENCES
Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga29Sentenced March 17, 2025, to 160 Months in Prison after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or more of Cocaine Base, and a Detectable Amount of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.Khali Ahmed Brown, aka “Migo Lee”24Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 168 Months after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Oxycodone; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense; and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.Keion Michael Brown21Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 147 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Oxycodone and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Miasiah Jamal Brown, aka “Michael Jamal Crawford”23Sentenced August 16, 2024, to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Tristan Miles Ware, aka “Greedy”24Sentenced December 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilos of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.Jovan Williams, aka “Chewy” and “Choo”20Sentenced April 18, 2025 to 180 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Armed Carjacking.Herman Eric-Bibmin Signou, aka “Herman Signour”25Sentenced March 22, 2024, to 40 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of MarijuanaCameron Xavier Reid28Sentenced May 31, 2024, to 60 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana.Warren Lawrence Fields, III, aka B-Dub26Sentenced May 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense and for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Juwan Demetrius Clark, aka “Squirrel”28Sentenced January 10, 2025, to 37 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Aaron DeAndre Mercer, aka “Curby,”34Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, Marijuana, and Cocaine Base.David Penn, aka “Turtle”32Sentenced November 15, 2024, to 220 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture of Cocaine Base; and Two Counts of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.Ronald Lynn Dorsey, aka “Ron G” and “HBGeezy”31Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 30 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Antonio Reginald Bailey, aka “Boy Boy,” and “Fellow King”24Sentenced February 8, 2024, to 24 Months for Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment.Anthony Trayon Bailey, aka “Fat Ant,” and “Bizzle”29Sentenced April 26, 2024, to 15 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base.Angel Enrique Suncar, aka “Coqui”31Sentenced December 12, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.Adebayo Adediji Green31Sentenced August 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Defendant Cameron Reid is from Falmouth, VA; all remaining defendants are from Washington, D.C.
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Felon with Firearm Indicted After Arrest for Committing Lewd Act in NortheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lawrence A. Jordan, 44, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Jordan was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2023, MPD officers were dispatched to the 700 block of 2nd Street, NE, for reports of disorderly conduct. Police encountered the defendant and later removed him from an apartment complex for being a non-resident. Police later escorted the defendant out of a fitness center attached to the apartments. Approximately 40 minutes later, police were called to respond to the same fitness center for reports of a man, later identified as the defendant, committing a lewd act; however, the defendant had left the scene.
Days later, on Nov. 23, 2023, police responded to a call of aggressive panhandling in the 1300 block of H Street, NE. There, police arrested a man, later identified as the defendant, for lewd, indecent, or obscene acts. Police then searched the defendant and allegedly discovered him concealing a loaded, semi-automatic pistol on his person.
The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a previous felony conviction.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Traffic Stop Arrest on Constitution AveRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Timothy Clark, 30, of the District, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Clark is charged in an indictment unsealed in federal court with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, on May 10, 2024, an individual, identified as Timothy Clark, was arrested following a traffic stop on Constitution Avenue. A United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer on routine patrol observed a vehicle with a temporary registration that appeared to be expired. A subsequent check revealed no vehicle was found for the plate and no registration was on file. The officer conducted a traffic stop, and the driver was unable to provide a license or registration.
Court documents say that Clark was arrested for having no permit and counterfeit tags. During processing, a check revealed Clark had outstanding warrants from Queen Anne's County Sheriff and a Failure to Appear warrant in D.C.
An inventory search of the vehicle uncovered a black backpack in the rear cargo area containing an alleged handgun and ammunition.
Clark is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous felony convictions in Superior Court and the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County, Maryland.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Charged with Possession of Stolen Firearm and Oxycodone Following U Street ArrestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Don Diego Chase, 25, of the District has been indicted on federal firearms and drug charges as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Chase is charged in a three-count indictment unsealed in federal court with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, officers from the Third District Crime Suppression Unit were patrolling the U Street Corridor when they encountered an individual, later identified as Chase. When officers attempted to engage Chase, Chase fled on foot, leading to a brief pursuit. It is alleged that during the pursuit, officers observed a black, L-shaped object fall from Chase. The object was recovered and subsequently confirmed to be a 9mm HS Product (imported by Springfield Armory) XDM firearm, which had been reported stolen out of Atlanta, Georgia. At the time of Chase’s arrest, the firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and fifteen additional rounds in a large-capacity magazine.
A search incident to arrest revealed that Chase was also carrying over 500 Oxycodone pills and $11,621.96 in U.S. currency.
Officers determined that Chase did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia and that Chase had prior convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Authorities also discovered that Chase had several outstanding arrest warrants for carjacking and armed robbery.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to 58 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tre Enrique Jackson, 31, of the District, was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison today after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes ordered that Jackson serve three years on supervised release when he is released from prison.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On Sept. 18, 2023, MPD detectives and officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Jackson was staying. While searching the residence, detectives looked inside a backpack that Jackson had been seen carrying earlier that day and discovered a Glock-style Privately Manufactured Firearm– commonly referred to as a ghost gun.
The firearm was chambered for 9mm ammunition and was loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in a 17-round capacity magazine.
A review of Jackson’s criminal history revealed that he was on supervised release in D.C. Superior Court for a prior gun conviction, and Jackson was placed under arrest. DNA testing confirmed the presence of Jackson’s DNA on the firearm seized from his backpack.
This case was investigated by MPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.
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Leader and Money Launderer for the KDY Drug Trafficking Crew Sentenced to 160 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kenneth Amedola Olugbenga, 29, a leader of and money launderer for the violent Kennedy Street Crew (KDY), was sentenced today to 160 months in federal prison for his role in a massive drug trafficking organization that operated open-air markets in Northwest Washington D.C.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office , and ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Washington Field Division.
Olugbenga, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2024, to a two-count Superseding Information, charging him with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 160-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Olugbenga to serve four years of supervised release. Judge Howell also ordered Olugbenga to forfeit $374,598.00 as part of his sentence.
KDY members operated open-air drug markets on an 11-block stretch of Kennedy Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., as well as surrounding streets. Like many drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), KDY armed itself with fire power to facilitate the drug trade defend its territory from rival crews and commit other violent crimes. Olugbenga was arrested in June 2023 as part of a coordinated arrest operation in this case and has remained in federal custody since his arrest.
According to court documents, and by his own admission, Olugbenga served as an organizer and leader of the Kennedy Street Crew. Olugbenga was one of the originators of KDY’s drug trafficking operation via commercial flights from California. He served as the lead money launderer for the crew, establishing phony companies that included an auto detailing business to project an illusion of legitimacy for the crew’s drug trafficking. From 2019 until the date of his arrest, Olugbenga also used a local casino to launder $1.8 million in illegal proceeds from drug trafficking. In addition, Olugbenga used one of the phony businesses to apply for and receive a forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. He used the SBA funds to buy more bulk narcotics.
Olugbenga took nearly six dozen roundtrip flights to the West Coast over the course of the four-year conspiracy and spent more than $21,000 on one-way airline tickets in one year alone.
Olugbenga was a bulk supplier of cocaine, both powdered and crack, along with marijuana. He regularly referred customers to other KDY drug trafficking operations when they sought pills or other narcotics that he himself was unable to readily access. He tracked drug expenses and debts within the crew, pooling resources and noting law enforcement seizures over the course of the four-year conspiracy.
He also engaged in drug activity on KDY turf. Within the open-air drug market in Kennedy Street territory, MPD officers conducted 15 controlled purchases from Olugbenga totaling 52.3 grams of cocaine base.
On February 20, 2023, in the 500 block of Emerson Street NW, the MPD’s Fourth District Crime Suppression Team observed a Ford Econoline van driving recklessly as it swerved into oncoming traffic to pass a bicyclist. This van was the same vehicle that Olugbenga had been seen using around the open-air drug market on Kennedy Street since the beginning of the investigation. MPD officers attempted to stop the van, chasing it as it fled. The vehicle eventually stopped near the intersection of 7th and Longfellow Streets NW. Olugbenga abandoned the van and fled on foot. The van was subsequently searched, and law enforcement recovered distribution quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana, a loaded Glock handgun, a drug ledger, and a brochure for one of Olugbenga’s shell companies.
On June 27, 2023, law enforcement arrested Olugbenga and served search warrants at two residences associated with him. At his residence in KDY territory, officers recovered five kilos of marijuana, nearly a kilo of cocaine, and various scales.
Of the 17 KDY members charged in connection with the investigation, 16 have now been sentenced. Co-defendant Jovan Williams, aka Chewy, will be sentenced tomorrow, April 18.
This investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the DEA’s Washington Division, the FBI's Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Field Office, and ATF’s Washington Field Division.
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and Sitara Witanachchi, of the of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
KDY DEFENDANTS
NAME
AGE
CHARGES/SENTENCES
Kenneth Ademola Olugbenga29Sentenced March 17, 2025, to 160 Months in Prison after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or more of Cocaine Base, and a Detectable Amount of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.Khali Ahmed Brown, aka “Migo Lee”24Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 168 Months after Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl and Oxycodone; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense; and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.Keion Michael Brown21Sentenced January 16, 2025, to 147 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Oxycodone and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Miasiah Jamal Brown, aka “Michael Jamal Crawford”23Sentenced August 16, 2024, to Five Years for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Tristan Miles Ware, aka “Greedy”24Sentenced December 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilos of Marijuana; and Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.Jovan Williams, aka “Chewy” and “Choo”20Sentencing Scheduled for April 18, 2025. Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana and Armed Carjacking.Herman Eric-Bibmin Signou, aka “Herman Signour”25Sentenced March 22, 2024, to 40 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of MarijuanaCameron Xavier Reid28Sentenced May 31, 2024, to 60 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms of More of Marijuana.Warren Lawrence Fields, III, aka B-Dub26Sentenced May 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense and for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Juwan Demetrius Clark, aka “Squirrel”28Sentenced January 10, 2025, to 37 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Aaron DeAndre Mercer, aka “Curby,”34Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 120 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, Marijuana, and Cocaine Base.David Penn, aka “Turtle”32Sentenced November 15, 2024, to 220 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture of Cocaine Base; and Two Counts of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.Ronald Lynn Dorsey, aka “Ron G” and “HBGeezy”31Sentenced September 13, 2024, to 30 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.Antonio Reginald Bailey, aka “Boy Boy,” and “Fellow King”24Sentenced February 8, 2024, to 24 Months for Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment.Anthony Trayon Bailey, aka “Fat Ant,” and “Bizzle”29Sentenced April 26, 2024, to 15 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine Base.Angel Enrique Suncar, aka “Coqui”31Sentenced December 12, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.Adebayo Adediji Green31Sentenced August 16, 2024, to 60 Months for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.Defendant Cameron Reid is from Falmouth, VA; all remaining defendants are from Washington, D.C.
Kenneth Olugbenga photographed at the local casino where he laundered illicit drug proceeds.
Olugbenga frequented the open-air drug market in the Kennedy Street Corridor, often with his panel van or one of several sedans he operated.
At Olugbenga’s residence in KDY territory, officers recovered nearly five kilograms of marijuana, and nearly a kilogram of cocaine.
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Unprovoked Assault on Stranger at Metro Station Nets Prison TermRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isis Lee, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 11, 2025, to 12 months and one day in prison for randomly attacking a woman walking home from Mount Vernon Metro Station, in November 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Lee pleaded guilty, in February 2025, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon (pepper spray), in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, before the Honorable Judge Judith Pipe.
According to the government’s evidence, around 8:00 p.m., on November 17, 2024, Lee and her associates followed the victim and her boyfriend, who they had never met or interacted with before, as they walked home from the Mount Vernon Metro Station before ambushing them in the area of 9th and L Street NW. Lee pepper sprayed the victim directly in her eyes while her companion held a knife to the victim’s boyfriend’s throat. Lee and her associates also hit the victim and her boyfriend with their hands before the victim and her boyfriend were able to flee. The defendant and her associates continued to pursue the victim and her boyfriend, assaulting them again on the street, before chasing them into a nearby restaurant, where Lee was captured on surveillance footage throwing glass bottles at the victim. The victim and her boyfriend were transported to George Washington Hospital, where they received treatment for their injuries. Lee fled the scene and was later apprehended on an arrest warrant.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Lieberman who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Former FAA Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Former Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) contractor Abouzar Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, pleaded guilty today for acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States, without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General and conspiracy to do the same.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Supervisory Official Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2025. Rahmati faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, and up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
“The brazen acts of this defendant – acting against the United States while on U.S. soil – is a clear example of how our enemies are willing to take risks in order to do us harm,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “We want to remind anyone with access to our critical infrastructure about the importance of keeping that information out of the hands of our adversaries. I want to commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who secured a guilty plea that will keep our country safer.”
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s zero tolerance policy for the Government of Iran’s repeated attempts to undermine U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director in Charge Jensen. “Mr. Rahmati’s case should serve as a warning to Americans with access to sensitive U.S. critical technology that Iranian intelligence services see them as a target—particularly those with information regarding our aviation sector. The FBI and our partners will continue to relentlessly identify and disrupt hostile actors’ efforts to target our aviation and other infrastructure, which is vital to keeping our citizens safe.”
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university. Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor, working for U.S. COMPANY 1, by downloading at least 172 GB of U.S. COMPANY 1 files, which included sensitive access-controlled FAA documents related to the National Aerospace System (NAS), NAS Airport Surveillance Radar systems, and radio frequency data. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
Also in April 2022, in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence on Rahmati’s behalf.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Former FAA Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
Former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor Abouzar Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act and acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States without prior notification to the Attorney General.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university. Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor, working for U.S. COMPANY 1, by downloading at least 172 GB of U.S. COMPANY 1 files, which included sensitive access-controlled FAA documents related to the National Aerospace System (NAS), NAS Airport Surveillance Radar systems, and radio frequency data. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
Also in April 2022, in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence on Rahmati’s behalf.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26. Rahmati faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, and up to five years in prison for conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Charges Filed in Assault on Metro Transit Police OfficerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erik Schleehauf, 43, of Washington, D.C., was charged in Superior Court with assault of a police officer while armed and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the April 15, 2025, attack of a Metro Transit Police Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).
Schleehauf made an appearance in court today and was ordered held without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18, 2025, before Superior Court Judge Robert A. Salerno.
According to documents filed with the court, at approximately 2:26 p.m., on April 15th, at the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station, an MTPD Sergeant observed Schleehauf attempting to evade his fare by standing up on the fare machine and jumping over the glass gates. The MTPD Sergeant, followed the defendant as he walked towards the escalators and tried to stop him from exiting. Schleehauf pulled out a sharpened, pointed tool, which he had hidden on his person, and began to stab the MTPD Sergeant in the face, causing puncture wounds. The MTPD Sergeant suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Schleehauf was arrested at the scene.
This case is being investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck.
Charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guilty Verdict Handed Down for July 2024 Carjacking of a Delivery DriverRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Devonte Carter, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of carjacking for an offense that took place on a Southeast Washington street corner in July of 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2025. Carjacking carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison. Carter also faces a statutory minimum term of 15 years of incarceration because he was previously convicted of two crimes of violence.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of July 10, 2024, the complainant was working as a DoorDash food delivery driver. At approximately 7:25 pm, the complainant, who was driving a motorized scooter, approached the intersection of Cedar and 14th Streets SE. The complainant pulled over to the side of the road to check something on his scooter. At that point, a black car stopped next to the complainant. An unknown suspect opened the back passenger side door and pointed a gun at the complainant. Then Carter came out from the back driver’s side door, went around the back of the car, and ripped the complainant off the scooter. The defendant also took the scooter’s key fob.
Thereafter, the defendant drove to a public housing complex located at the 2400 block of Elvans Road SE, where the defendant and others in the area took the scooter for joyrides. An air tag on the scooter led Metropolitan Police Department officers to the housing complex, where the scooter was recovered. The defendant ran from the complex as police began to canvass the area. DNA analysis also linked the defendant to the scooter.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office. Finally, the U.S. Attorney commended Assistant United States Attorneys Caelainn Carney and Michael C. Lee for their work in prosecuting this case.
24 Charged with Federal Gun Crimes Under ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’ InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has brought federal firearms charges against 24 defendants since the launch of the ‘Make D.C. Safe Again’ initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
“Make no mistake: our mission is to Make D.C. Safe Again by getting felons with guns off our streets and out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. “The President’s Executive Order demands law and order and a safe national capital. That’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
In the month of April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged six new federal firearms cases. As a result of the Make D.C. Safe Again surge, more dangerous offenders are off the streets. An example of these cases include:
- Defendant Previously Convicted of Manslaughter Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
- District Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon Following Arrest Near Recreation Center.
- District Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon Following Arrest in Southwest.
Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump’s Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating these cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Indicted on Gun Charge After Allegedly Discarding Loaded Firearm Near U StreetRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Raymond Davon Benson, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Benson was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2025, MPD officers observed defendant Benson walking eastbound on U Street NW. The officers witnessed Benson holding a red solo cup, known to be frequently used for consuming alcohol in the U Street corridor.
Upon observing the police presence, defendant Benson allegedly dumped amber liquid from the cup and tossed it to the ground. As officers approached to investigate a potential open container of alcohol violation, Benson reportedly fled the scene, running down sidewalks and into an alley. As he fled in the alley, Benson was allegedly observed throwing a firearm before continuing his flight. Benson was apprehended a short time later. Officers recovered a Cobray M-11 firearm with a high-capacity magazine and approximately 30 rounds of ammunition from the location where Benson allegedly tossed the firearm.
Benson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction in Superior Court for the District of Columbia.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PDS Gang Member Sentenced for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dartanyan Ricardo Hawkins, 30, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of marijuana in the District of Columbia.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Hawkins, aka “Shitty,” was a member of the Push Dat Shit (PDS) and Jugg Gang (JG) street crews. He pleaded guilty November 1, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of marijuana. As part of his plea, Hawkins admitted to possessing a firearm as part of the offense and further admitted to using Instagram to sell marijuana.
In addition to the 60-month prison term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Hawkins to serve four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast and operated an open-air drug market outside a market. In August 2018, PDS allied with a neighboring street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG,” that included Hawkins. The combined gang also conspired to carry firearms – including machine guns – to protect themselves, their drugs, their cash, and their territory from rival crews with whom they had “beefs.”
This sentence is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has resulted in 27 convictions and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.
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Mother Sentenced to Prison Term for Throwing Her Three-Month-Old Baby on PavementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shanta Watson, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today, to 60 months in prison for throwing her three-month-old baby onto the pavement, in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Watson pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree cruelty to children, in November 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
According to the government’s evidence, Watson is the biological mother of a son, who was a three-month-old infant in September of 2024. On September 5, 2024, Watson had an argument with her former romantic partner, the father of her infant son. When he left her apartment, Watson walked after him holding her baby in her arms and stood outside of her apartment complex. Watson proceeded to walk after her former romantic partner on the sidewalk, and when she got to the end of the sidewalk, to the parking lot, Watson yelled at him and intentionally threw her infant son onto the pavement. Watson then casually picked up the baby, like nothing happened, and attempted to walk back to her apartment building. Surveillance footage from the apartment complex captured Watson deliberately throwing her infant son.
As a result of the defendant’s conduct, her infant son was transported to the hospital, in the NICU unit. The baby suffered multiple skull fractures, multiple points of bleeding in the brain, swelling to the back of his head, and elevated liver enzymes. The baby’s injuries were consistent with Non-Accidental Trauma.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Smith and Patricia-Joy Walker, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Key West Man Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Smuggling Firearms from Florida to HaitiRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jean Wiltene Eugene, 57, of Key West, Florida, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to one count of smuggling for his role in a gun running operation that illegally exported firearms to Haiti.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin Fleck of the Miami Field Office. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22.
According to court documents, Eugene is a U.S. citizen who was born in Haiti and resides in Key West, Florida. On or about September 23, 2021, Eugene knowingly exported more than two firearms from the United States to Haiti without having first obtained the required license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. Any person who exports a firearm without proper authorization may be fined up to $1 million and imprisoned for up to 20 years.
According to court records, Eugene arranged to ship vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company. Eugene signed the company’s terms and conditions of shipments, which required the shipper to affirm that the vehicles did not contain any firearms or ammunition. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted that, in 2020 and 2021, he shipped two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside. Eugene stated that he placed food and other items around the bins holding the firearms so border authorities would not find the weapons.
In a later interview with federal agents Eugene stated that nine firearms he purchased in Key West under his name were currently located at his gas station in Haiti and that none of those firearms remained in the United States. He admitted that he knew it was illegal to ship weapons to Haiti when confronted by the federal agents.
Pursuant to an active arrest warrant, Eugene was arrested at a traffic stop on May 4, 2024, in Key West.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division.
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Judge Hands Down 18 Year Sentence for the 2021 Fatal Shooting of a Man in Southeast, Washington, DCRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kirk Spencer, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 9, 2025, to 18 years in prison for the February 2021 shooting death of Marcus Covington, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced Spencer to the upper middle of the guideline period of incarceration, 18 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Spencer pleaded guilty on October 11, 2024, to one count of second-degree murder while armed with a firearm.
At approximately 1:35 p.m., on February 23, 2021, Spencer and the decedent, Mr. Marcus Covington, were on the Anacostia Metro platform, located in the 1100 block of Howard Road in Southeast, Washington, DC. Video surveillance footage captured Spencer descend the escalator to the platform where he approached the victim, Marcus Covington. He greeted the victim with a half-hug and the two engaged in a brief conversation. At the end of the conversation, the defendant half-hugged Mr. Covington and as Mr. Covington was turning to head back to the bench area on the platform, Spencer pulled a handgun from his pocket, held it to the side of Mr. Covington’s head and shot him twice. Mr. Covington fell to the ground and as he laid there, Spencer fired again and fled the station. Mr. Covington was transported to Medstar Washington Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead early the next morning.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Ryan Sellinger of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Enhanced Second-Degree Theft Charges Filed for CVS Retail Store Theft in NorthwestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ramon Randall, 37, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on March 12, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
A grand jury indicted Randall on April 9, 2025. Arraignment is scheduled for on April 29..
According to the government’s evidence, on March 12, 2025, the defendant entered the CVS located at 2009 8th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 with a reusable bag. The manager of the CVS saw him place several items in his bag and called the police. MPD officers arrived on the scene and observed the defendant walking furtively throughout the store. The officers observed Randall attempt to leave the store without paying for the items. One officer, who was familiar with the defendant, stopped him as he was leaving the store. Randall exclaimed, “I ain’t left the premises!” The officer then delivered the stolen items to the manager, which consisted of several bottles of toothpaste, socks, and other merchandise valued at $133.27.
Randall has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Faces Federal Gun Charge After Allegedly Possessing ‘Giggle Switch’ Modified GlockRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Robert Calvin Corbin III, 45, a four-time previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Corbin was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon. On April 4, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Corbin to be held pre-trial.
According to court documents, police officers were called to investigate a report of a large group of individuals gambling with guns present near the 100 block of Q Street, NW. As the officers arrived at the scene, Corbin allegedly was smoking marijuana and drinking tequila from a plastic cup. An officer stopped Corbin for public consumption of marijuana and possession of an open container of alcohol. As the officer conducted a pat down, the officer felt a hard object in Corbin’s waistband and asked what the object was. Corbin responded, “nothing,” then allegedly attempted to shove the officer’s hands away and grabbed toward the officer. The officer and Corbin struggled. Police eventually cuffed Corbin.
It is alleged that officers recovered a Glock 19 equipped with a laser sight and loaded with one bullet in the chamber and an additional 19 rounds in a large-capacity magazine. The firearm also had been modified with a “giggle switch,” a small device that converts a traditional handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. It is further alleged that during a search incident to arrest, police discovered a second large-capacity magazine with an additional 17 rounds of ammunition in Corbin’s bag.
Corbin was placed under arrest for possession of a machine gun, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a large capacity feeding device, felon in possession, and possession of an open container of alcohol. He is now charged in federal court with violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1) (Unlawful Possession of Firearm or Ammunition By a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year).
The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jury Finds Man Guilty in Shooting at Social Club Which Left an NFL Prospect ParalyzedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Roger Lee Jones, 42, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury, on April 7, 2025, of one count of assault with intent to kill while armed and other related charges, for shooting a man in retaliation for an earlier dispute at a social club. The verdict was announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and followed a two week trial.
The jury also found Jones guilty of three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of aggravated assault while armed, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of carrying a pistol without a license, one count of unauthorized use of a vehicle, one count of simple assault, one count of fleeing a law enforcement officer, and one count of threats. Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2025.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on January 22, 2022, Victim 1 was working as a security guard at Kick Axe Throw Social located in Northeast, DC. Jones was a patron there with his ex-girlfriend and child’s mother, Victim 2. At the establishment, Jones got into an argument with Victim 2, took the keys to Victim 2’s vehicle, and left the bar with the keys. After Jones left the bar, Victim 2 called Jones to ask for the return of her vehicle.
At approximately 12:10 a.m., Jones returned to the front of Kick Axe Throw Social where Victim 2 was waiting. Jones refused to return the keys or the vehicle, and then violently attacked Victim 2 by punching her multiple times in the face. Security staff intervened and stopped Jones’s assault. In response, Jones made threatening statements to the security staff, then left the scene in Victim 2’s vehicle. Victim 1 was not one of the security staff who broke up the fight.
After leaving Kick Axe Throw Social, Jones called an accomplice, who drove to the defendant’s location. Jones and the accomplice then drove back to Kick Axe using the accomplice’s vehicle.
Meanwhile, Victim 2 traveled to her home and called Jones to again ask him to return her vehicle. Jones replied by telling Victim 2 to stay where she was and that he was coming to kill her.
At 1:07 a.m., as Victim 1 was standing by the trunk of his car preparing to leave Kick Axe Throw Social, Jones approached Victim 1 from behind and fired seven shots at him from close range. Victim 1 suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and back and was paralyzed immediately from the waist down. Prior to the incident, Victim 1 was a National Football League (NFL) prospect. The defendant and the accomplice then fled the scene in the accomplice’s vehicle.
At approximately 1:54 a.m., as police officers with the Metropolitan Police Department were assisting Victim 2 by her residence, Victim 2 and the officers spotted her vehicle being operated with its headlights off. Officers immediately began to follow the vehicle with emergency equipment activated, but Jones refused to comply with officer commands to stop the vehicle. Jones was able to make good his escape.
Jones was identified through surveillance footage, cell phone tracking data, vehicle data, and ballistics evidence linking the gun used in this incident to a shooting committed on February 19, 2022, by the accomplice.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of officers and detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Dunn and Benjamin Helfand, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Miller and Travis Wolf, who prosecuted the case at trial.
DynCorp Agrees to Pay $21 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Lawsuit Alleging Inflated Costs on State DepartmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - DynCorp International, LLC (DynCorp) has agreed to pay $21 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it knowingly submitted inflated subcontractor charges under a State Department contract to train Iraqi police forces, known as the “CIVPOL” contract. DynCorp was a government contractor headquartered in Irving, Texas and Falls Church, Virginia. Amentum, another government contractor with headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia, purchased DynCorp in November 2020.
The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and Assistant Inspector General Robert J. Smolich for Investigations at the Department of State Office of Inspector General.
The State Department awarded the CIVPOL contract to DynCorp in April 2004 to provide training for civilian police forces in Iraq. DynCorp was also tasked with supplying support for this effort, such as lodging for contractor personnel and various labor services. In a lawsuit filed in July 2016, the United States alleged that one of DynCorp’s main CIVPOL subcontractors charged excessive, uncompetitive, and unsubstantiated rates for hotel lodging and guard, translator, driver, and supervisor services, and that DynCorp, contrary to its obligations as a government prime contractor, knowingly passed on those charges to the State Department for reimbursement.
“As the Trump Administration zeroes in on fraud, waste, and abuse, this Office will continue to seek settlements with outside entities that are taking advantage of their U.S. government contract by either not providing what they promised or misusing the funds in other ways,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “This contractor was supposed to train civilian police forces to help the State Department provide some stability for a strategic partner. When you are given a government contract, you are taking money from the American people and this office will make certain you deliver on your promises.”
“Federal contractors have a duty be fair and honest when doing business with the government,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department will not tolerate those who use times of conflict and strife to enrich themselves at the expense of the American people.”
The case is captioned United States v. DynCorp International, LLC, Case No. 1:16-cv-01473 (D.D.C.).
"State Department contractors and subcontractors have a unique opportunity to serve their country and contribute to the safety and security of Americans across the globe," said Assistant Inspector General Robert J. Smolich for Investigations at the Department of State Office of Inspector General. "Today's settlement sends a clear message that those who seek to exploit State Department contracts in order to defraud American taxpayers will be held accountable for their actions."
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of an effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inspector General.
Trial Attorneys Ben Young and Jeff McSorley and Assistant United States Attorney Darrell Valdez represented the United States in this matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Signed Agreement found here:
us_v._dyncorp_final_settlement_agreement_signed.pdfDistrict Man Indicted on Federal Firearm Charge Under 'Make D.C. Safe Again' InitiativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nelson Bryant, 31, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Bryant was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, MPD officers were conducting routine foot patrol in the 1900 block of 9th Street NW, Washington D.C. when an unidentified citizen alerted an MPD officer to a man with a firearm. Shortly thereafter, officers observed an individual, later identified as defendant Nelson Bryant, matching the citizen's description in the 1900 block of 9th Street NW. Officers initiated a stop of Bryant, at which point they allegedly witnessed him remove a handgun from his waistband and hand it to an unknown individual within a nearby crowd.
It is alleged that this unknown male dropped the handgun and fled on foot eastbound on U Street. Bryant was subsequently apprehended by MPD Officers. The firearm, which Bryant allegedly removed from his waistband, was recovered at the location where the unknown subject dropped it.
Bryant is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction.
This case was investigated by the ATF and MPD Officers and Detectives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Galloway and Emory V. Cole.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Armed Felon Indicted After Discharging Firearm in Air Near Southeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dewayne Keith Miles, 29, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Miles was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, On March 15, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were investigating a robbery in Southeast Washington, D.C., when they heard gunfire nearby. Officers observed defendant Dewayne Keith Miles allegedly discharging a firearm into the air in front of a residence on Benning Road, SE.
It is alleged that as officers approached, Miles fled into the residence. At the scene, police recovered thirteen 9mm cartridge casings and a Smith & Wesson SD9 handgun, which was located near the casings. The firearm matched the type used and was later confirmed to be reported stolen from the Richmond City Police Department.
Court documents say that officers then secured the residence, detained its occupants, and ultimately took Miles into custody after he exited the building. A search revealed a live 9mm round in his possession, consistent with the ammunition found on the street. The firearm was determined to be functional, unregistered, and transported through interstate commerce, as there are no firearms or ammunition distributors in the District.
A criminal records check confirmed Miles had a prior felony conviction, making him legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was transported to the Sixth District for processing.
The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.
miles_indictment_0.pdf View Miles Indictment
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Senior Member of Violent D.C. Drug Crew Is Sentenced to 420 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Broadus Jamal Daniels, 30, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 420 months (35 years) in prison in connection with drug and gun charges related to a drug-trafficking conspiracy.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Daniels, aka “Wardy,” was found guilty by a federal jury on September 16, 2024, of possessing machine guns in furtherance of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of machine guns, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In addition to the 35-year prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Daniels to serve four years of supervised release.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Daniels, was a “big homie” or senior member in a street gang known as Jugg Gang, or “JG.” In approximately August 2018, the Jugg Gang became allied with a neighboring D.C. street crew known as “Push Dat Shit” or “PDS.” PDS maintained gang territory in the 3300 – 3500 blocks of Wheeler Road, Southeast, and adjacent areas, and operated an open-air drug market outside a grocery located on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, Southeast.
Between August 2018 and April 2023, members of the allied PDS/JG street crew sold drugs from Holiday Market and from “trap houses” that they maintained in apartment buildings surrounding that location. As their drug business grew, PDS/JG became the target of drive-by shootings conducted by rival gangs – shootings they referred to as “spinning the block.” Beginning in August 2019, a PDS/JG member began assembling AR-pistol assault rifles from kits purchased from online retailers and modified them to be capable of fully automatic fire. Such firearms are defined as “privately made firearms” by the ATF but are frequently referred to as “ghost guns” on the street.
As proved at trial, PDS/JG members used, carried, and possessed these “ghost gun” AR-pistol machine guns to defend their territory from rival gangs, and also to “spin the block” on rival gangs to deter their rivals from entering PDS/JG territory.
This sentencing is part of an ongoing joint investigation which has resulted in 26 convictions, and the seizure of two vehicles, 35 firearms, four machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, 41 grams of cocaine base, dozens of oxycodone pills, and approximately $500,000 in cash.
Daniels’ co-defendant, Andre Alonte Willis, who was a leader of PDS, was sentenced February 20, 2025, to 20 years in prison on five felony convictions related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James B. Nelson and Justin F. Song and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.
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District Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon Following Arrest Near Recreation CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricky Corey Watkins, Jr., 33, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and unlawful possession of a firearm in a school zone. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, MPD Officers responded to the Harrison Recreation Center, located at 1330 V. Street, Northwest, on March 19, 2025, for a call that someone was riding a dirt bike on the baseball field. Hawkins, who was driving the dirt bike, was handcuffed and detained. It is alleged that while detained, Hawkins complained of an injury, and D.C. Fire and Emergency Services responded. When Hawkins was told that he would need to be searched before he was transported by ambulance, Watkins stood up and allegedly attempted to flee. While he was running with his hands cuffed behind his back, Watkins allegedly removed a firearm from his person and dropped it on the ground. Both the firearm and Watkins were recovered by MPD officers shortly thereafter.
The firearm was identified as a 9mm Glock, Model 19X, which was loaded with one round in the chamber and fourteen additional rounds in the magazine. The firearm was also fitted with a laser sight attachment.
A criminal history check revealed that Watkins had prior felony convictions, which prohibited him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.
View Watkins Indictment:
watkins_indictment_0.pdfAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Man Convicted of Federal Firearms and Drug Offenses Following a Robbery on Benning Road, NortheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury convicted Naquel Matao Henderson, 27, of Washington, D.C., of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery, and unlawful possession of Oxycodone following a six-day trial, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is part of Make D.C. Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Government photo exhibit. Photo of Glock 30.United States District Judge Timothy J. Kelly scheduled Henderson’s sentencing for July 3, 2025. Henderson had been detained since his arrest in this case.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Henderson rode an electric scooter into traffic at approximately 2:16 pm on June 24, 2024, colliding with a car that had the green light. Following a brief argument, Henderson pushed the woman whose car he hit and violently snatched a cross-body satchel from her person before fleeing. Both the collision and the robbery were captured on overhead surveillance cameras. Numerous individuals witnessed the robbery, including an MPD Commander who issued an emergency call for assistance.
A responding MPD patrol officer attempted to detain Henderson for the robbery, at which point he turned and ran. Both the patrol officer and the MPD Commander, who had made the emergency call, chased Henderson into an alley, where they observed that he was carrying a handgun. The patrol officer tackled Henderson and wrestled the firearm away, and the MPD Commander secured it. Additional officers responded to the scene, and Henderson was eventually taken into custody. The firearm was determined to be a .45 caliber Glock loaded with one round in the chamber and fourteen rounds in the magazine.
A search of Henderson’s person after his arrest revealed that he was carrying a total of fifty (50) 10mg Oxycodone pills. The pills were manufactured by two different companies and were stored in two different pill bottles – neither of which listed Henderson as the prescribed user of the Oxycodone.
Prior to his arrest in this case, Henderson had been convicted of felony offenses in both the D.C. Superior Court and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and he was therefore prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. At the time of his arrest, Henderson was also on pretrial release in D.C. Superior Court, where he was charged with numerous violent offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder while armed.
This case was investigated by MPD officers and detectives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shehzad Akhtar and James B. Nelson and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Macechko.
Climate Activist Found Guilty in Defacing Degas Exhibit at National Gallery of ArtRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Timothy Martin, 55, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was found guilty by a federal jury for his role in the April 27, 2023, defacement of an art exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.President Trump directed federal authorities in a March 2025 Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful by launching a multi-faceted initiative to address both crime and beautification. This includes the creation of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to coordinate law enforcement efforts, and a program to restore and enhance the city's public spaces.
“This verdict sends a strong message to the thousands of people who come to D.C. each year to demonstrate and be heard,” said U.S Attorney Martin. “Free speech is a constitutional right. But when you take illegal action, such as causing damage to an art exhibit at the National Gallery, you are crossing a line. We want to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again, and we will not tolerate anyone defacing our city to get attention for their cause.”
After a four-day trial, the jury, yesterday, found Martin guilty of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for August 22, 2025.
According to evidence introduced in court, Martin and co-defendant Johanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, NY, smeared paint on the case and base of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen, a sculpture which has drawn visitors for years to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Following the attack, a group called Declare Emergency claimed credit.
Martin and Smith agreed, along with other co-conspirators, to enter the National Gallery of Art for the purpose of injuring the exhibit and entered the museum armed with water bottles filled with paint. Martin and Smith handed their phones to other co-conspirators and waited until patrons cleared the area in front of the Little Dancer. The pair proceeded to smear paint on the case and base of the exhibit, at times smacking the case with force. Prior to the attack, members of the conspiracy had alerted the Washington Post, and two reporters from the Post recorded and photographed the offense. Additionally, other members of the conspiracy filmed and photographed the offense.
Smith and Martin caused over $4,000 in damage, including material and labor costs, and the exhibit was removed from public display for 10 days so that it could be repaired.
Smith pleaded guilty December 15, 2023, to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. She was sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by 24 months of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $4,062 in restitution.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Tepfer and Jennifer Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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Guilty Verdict for Man Who Shot Groundskeeper in Dispute over Leaf BlowingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Superior Court jury found Lawrence Murphy, 52, of Washington, D.C., guilty on April 4, 2025, of one count of aggravated assault while armed and related charges, for shooting the victim, an entrepreneur with a groundskeeping business, in March 2020, over a dispute about blowing leaves and debris in his yard, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In addition to the aggravated assault charge, the jury also found Murphy guilty of one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2025.
According to the evidence presented at trial, at approximately 6:30 p.m., on March 31, 2020, the victim was blowing leaves in the alley of the 1300 block of Queen Street NE, when the defendant, Murphy, became upset, alleging the victim was blowing leaves towards his house. The defendant was standing on his porch and yelled at the victim, threatening to kill him if he did not blow the leaves away. Murphy then shot the victim, causing injuries to his wrist. The victim observed the shooter run inside a house in the 1300 block of Queen Street NE. Camera footages in the area captured the defendant leaving out of the back yard and running down an alley a minute later. An eyewitness heard a “pop” noise, looked out the window and saw the victim in the alley and the defendant on the porch. The eyewitness informed the officers that a Green GMC, which was parked on the road, is associated with the defendant. Officers stayed on scene to see if anyone returned to the area, and at approximately 8:03 p.m., Murphy returned to the scene and attempted to get into the Green GMC. He was wearing the same clothing and matched the description the victim provided to police, and he was arrested at the scene.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shaniqua Butler and Negar Kordestani.
District Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm as a Felon Following Arrest in SouthwestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Da'jon Malloy, 29, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal gun charge as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Malloy was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. On April 1, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered Malloy detained pre-trial.
According to court documents, on March 5, 2025, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) observed an individual, later identified as defendant Malloy, walking in the 100 block of M Street, Southwest. Officers engaged Malloy and observed a clearly defined “L” shaped object inside a crossbody satchel he was wearing, consistent with a concealed firearm. Upon questioning, Malloy initially denied having any contraband but later admitted to possessing marijuana and a scale. Malloy then removed from the satchel approximately nine bags of suspected marijuana.
Court documents say that as officers moved to take him into custody, Malloy began behaving evasively and attempted to obscure the bag from view. Another MPD officer subsequently looked into the open satchel and allegedly observed the magazine of a handgun protruding from inside. It is alleged that officers recovered a firearm containing one round in the chamber and 14 additional rounds in the magazine. A database check confirmed Malloy did not possess a valid firearm license in the District of Columbia.
A further investigation revealed that Malloy possessed prior felony convictions, including Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in D.C., and Burglary in Maryland, confirming that Malloy was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti.
This case is part of Make D.C. Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
View the Malloy indictment:
malloy_indictment_0.pdfProtestor Sentenced in Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station Following a Protest RallyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in connection with spray-painting the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024, following a protest rally.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Courtland Rae of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police (USPP).
Mahdawi received 10 days in federal prison, followed by six months of supervision. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg also ordered Mahdawi to serve 80 hours of community service and to pay $1,500 in restitution. Mahdawi pleaded guilty January 23, 2025, to destruction of government property, a misdemeanor.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest.
Between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Mahdawi lowered a United States flag from one of the flagpoles in Columbus Circle. The flag was subsequently stolen by another individual. Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle. His actions were captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument.
Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan.
The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.
This case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office with invaluable assistance from the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, the FBI Richmond Field Office, and the United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan.
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Man Pleads Guilty to November 2024 Armed Carjacking and August 2022 Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Demonta King, 18, of Chevy Chase, MD, pleaded guilty today for carjacking a taxicab driver at knifepoint in November 2024 and robbing another victim at gunpoint in August 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
King pleaded guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of armed carjacking and one count of armed robbery. The Honorable Jennifer Di Toro scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 1:50 a.m., on November 18, 2024, in the 5000 block of Fort Totten Drive, NE, King, while armed with a knife, approached the victim, a taxicab driver, who was standing approximately five feet from his taxicab. King announced a robbery and said, “Give me everything,” and ordered the victim to hand over his keys. King then stabbed the victim in the hand causing him to drop the keys. The defendant picked up the keys and took the victim’s taxicab, along with his phone, driver’s license, bank cards and other personal items. Officers later spotted the victim’s vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, in the 500 block of Chillum Road in Hyattsville, MD, when the defendant crashed and exited on foot. Police gave chase and stopped the defendant.
In a separate incident, according to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:45 a.m., on August 26, 2022, in the 100 Block of Gallatin Street and 1st Place NE, King approached a different victim, brandished a firearm, took the victim’s backpack and cell phone, and then struck the victim in the face with the firearm and fled. King was 16-years-old when he committed this offense and was prosecuted as an adult under Title 16.
King was placed under arrest at the scene of the armed carjacking and has been in custody since his arrest.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green.
Judge Sentences Maryland Man to Prison Term for Killing Woman Retrieving Personal Items from His Girlfriend’s ApartmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Amard Jefferson, 26, of Ft. Washington, MD, was sentenced today, to 27 years in prison, for the August 2021 murder of 20-year-old Kendall Brown and obstruction of justice for trying to convince his girlfriend to tell authorities that she killed Kendall Brown – not him, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On December 20, 2024, a jury found Jefferson guilty of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license and obstructing justice. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Jefferson to serve three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 4:28 p.m., on August 7, 2021, in the 3000 block of Nelson Place, Southeast, Ms. Brown and two others went to the apartment of Jefferson’s girlfriend to retrieve personal items that one of them left behind after moving out of the apartment. While there, a verbal argument occurred. Jefferson, who was not initially involved in the verbal argument, escalated the argument by introducing and reaching for his firearm and threatening the women that he was going to “call his men.” Shortly thereafter, and without cause or justification, the defendant shot Ms. Brown. After locking the victim into the apartment, the defendant fled with his girlfriend. As he fled the crime scene, he stashed the murder weapon -- a black 9mm ghost gun – in a drainpipe a few blocks away. Jefferson continued his efforts to prevent legal accountability a few days after his arrest when he attempted, through text messages and phone calls from the D.C. Department of Corrections, to convince his girlfriend to affirmatively and falsely take blame for the murder.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Han, Paralegal Specialists Sharon Newman, Meredith McGarrity, Lashone Samuels, and Lisa Minott, Victim/Witness Advocate Christie Bloodworth, Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Security Specialist Robert Cephas, Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, Shanika McCullough, and Maenylie Watson, Special Agents Matthew Fox-Moles, Eric Pauta, and Sean Ricardi.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Kukowski, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Clark and Stephanie Dinan, who prosecuted the case.
Judge Sentences Maryland Man Who Stabbed Romantic Partner Ten TimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Aron Williams, 33, of District Heights, Maryland, was sentenced today, for stabbing his romantic partner, on February 23, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Williams pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill on January 27, 2025, before the Honorable Jason Park in D.C. Superior Court.
Today, Judge Park sentenced Williams to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on February 23, 2024, an argument ensued between Williams and the victim, his romantic partner. During that argument, Williams became enraged and began strangling the victim with both hands around her neck before grabbing a large hunting knife from a chair. He then took the knife and stabbed the victim approximately ten times on both arms, both legs, her mouth, and her wrist. She started bleeding heavily, as the gash to her wrist was to the bone and the gash to her mouth nearly severed her lip from her face. He eventually fled, forcing his romantic partner and her son to call 911. She required emergency surgery to repair the cut to her wrist and stitches to close the wounds on her mouth, arms, and legs.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Hyde from the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section, who prosecuted the case.
Indictment Returned for February 2024 Shooting of Metropolitan Police Department OfficersRead the Press Release
UPDATE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified to investigate Rattigan.
WASHINGTON – Stephen Rattigan, also known as Julius James, 49, of Washington, D.C., was indicted April 2, 2025, on assault with intent to kill while armed and other charges stemming from the February 14, 2024, shooting of Metropolitan Police Department Officers, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”).
Rattigan was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of six counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, six counts of assault on a police officer while armed, three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, fifteen counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of endangerment with a firearm, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and one count of cruelty to animals.
Rattigan is scheduled to be arraigned on April 4, 2025, at a hearing before the Honorable Michael Ryan. Rattigan faces a mandatory minimum of five years of incarceration for each count of assault with intent to kill while armed, each count of assault on a police officer while armed, and each count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed. Rattigan faces a mandatory minimum of one year for each firearm in his possession.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 7:30 a.m., on February 14, 2024, members of MPD went to 5032 Hanna Place SE in Washington, D.C. to arrest Rattigan, then known as Julius James. MPD officers, in full uniform, repeatedly announced that they were with MPD and that they were at the residence to arrest Rattigan. After several minutes of no response, MPD officers observed Rattigan inside the house, and he began speaking to the officers. Despite attempting to have Rattigan open the door, MPD officers were forced to use tools to force open the front door. While six members of MPD were outside the front door, Rattigan fired several shots through the front door, striking three of the officers. An hours-long standoff then ensued, with Rattigan communicating with MPD negotiators for several hours. At one point during the standoff, Rattigan, upset that he wasn’t getting cigarettes quickly enough, fired three additional rounds through the front door.
After several hours, Rattigan surrendered to MPD officers, and he was arrested. After Rattigan was arrested, MPD executed a court-authorized search warrant inside the home. Inside, Rattigan had thirty-one dogs, three handguns, two AR-style rifles, two full drum magazines, and additional large-capacity magazines.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Goldstein of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Defendant Previously Convicted of Manslaughter Indicted for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Monte Tyree Johnson, 29, of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal gun charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again” public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., that is surging resources and charging more gun crimes in District Court to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia.
Johnson was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg detained Johnson on charges articulated in a criminal complaint filed on March 20, 2025, charging unlawful possession of a firearm. As outlined in the criminal complaint, Johnson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than one year. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Johnson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on December 10, 2021, and was sentenced to 96 months in prison.
According to court documents, on March 19, 2025, United States Marshals arrested Johnson for allegedly violating the terms of his supervised release. Johnson was taken into custody without incident at a residence in Northeast Washington, D.C., where authorities also allegedly recovered a firearm, high-capacity magazine, ammunition, and suspected narcotics.
On March 18, 2025, it is alleged that U.S. Marshals observed Johnson leaving a residence on Cassell Place NE carrying a black crossbody bag. The next day, investigators returned to the residence with knowledge of the active warrant and arrested Johnson in a third-floor bedroom.
Upon arrest, it is alleged that investigators observed the same black crossbody bag next to the bed Johnson had been occupying. In plain view, a high-capacity ammunition feeding device was protruding from the bag. A subsequent court-authorized search warrant led to the recovery of a loaded handgun, extended magazine, and controlled substances.
This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators who are a danger to the community.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
johnson_indictment_0.pdf
Court Sentences Man to 15 Year Prison Term for Killing Man in NortheastRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shannon Updike, 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today, to 15 years in prison for shooting Chidzie Njoku, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Updike pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on December 19, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In sentencing Updike, the court accepted the 15-year sentence that was part of the plea agreement.
According to the government’s evidence, Updike used a homemade purple assault rifle to shoot Chidzie Njoku twice at close range. Updike fled on foot but was stopped by MPD patrol officers after a foot chase.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case form the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera, and Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into an Armed Individual Fatally Shot by PoliceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On January 13, 2025, a 44-year-old District resident, D.W., died after being shot by the police. The officers responded to a call for a man armed with a gun, and encountered D.W., who brandished a handgun at them.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, autopsy results, and reports from MPD.
According to the evidence, at about 4:39 a.m., on January 13, 2025, members of the Metropolitan Police Department were summoned to a building in the 300 block of Florida Avenue, N.E., in response to a 911 call for a man with a gun. Upon their arrival, the police were advised that an occupant of the building was armed with a handgun and that he had fired a shot at an employee of the building. The employee advised the police that the man was still in the building. The police began to canvass the building. They eventually encountered the man – later identified as D.W. – near an elevator bank on the second floor. D.W. brandished a handgun, pointed it at the police, and then retreated into an elevator. D.W. emerged from the elevator a few minutes later at the lobby level with the gun now in his pocket. When officers attempted to stop D.W. as he tried to leave the building, D.W. retrieved the handgun from his pocket and a struggle ensued. The police ultimately discharged their service weapons and fatally wounded D.W.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated D.W.’s rights.
Investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
Former Bureau of Labor Statistics Economist Pleads Guilty to Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Matthew Hong, 28, of Middlesex, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to making false statements in connection with sick leave compensation that he received from his federal government employer when he was not sick but instead working remotely for a private company during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Supervisory Official Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office, Criminal and Cyber Division, and Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
Hong pleaded guilty to one count of false statements and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Hong was an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) within the U.S. Department of Labor from April 2020 until July 2023. At BLS, Hong worked on the Current Employment Statistics program within the National Estimates Branch that produced, among other things, the monthly estimates of nonfarm employment numbers. In that role Hong had access to certain Principal Federal Economic Indicators (PFEI), such as the employment and unemployment numbers, several days prior to their public disclosure. This information was subject to strict security procedures and safeguards due to the PFEI’s sensitivity and ability to affect financial markets if prematurely disclosed.
Beginning in June 2022, and while still employed at BLS and working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong began full-time employment at a global financial institution headquartered in New York City, as a senior associate in a group that analyzed and developed macroeconomic scenarios used in the company’s forecasting. As part of his job at the financial institution, Hong developed economic narratives and forecasts that involved multiple macroeconomic variables.
On at least 55 different occasions between June 2022 and July 2023, Hong made entries in BLS’s time and attendance system that falsely represented that he was sick on a given workday and sought sick leave compensation from BLS when, in fact, he was not sick but instead was working for the private financial institution. Based on these false statements, Hong received over $13,300 in sick leave compensation from BLS.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and DOL-OIG. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami Sibay for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Matthew F. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Rakoczy and Maria Vento provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
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Importer and Distributer of Wholesale Quantities of Fentanyl Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ronnie Rogers, 69, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that imported and redistributed wholesale quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the District of Columbia.
The plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, FBI Special Agent Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Rogers pleaded guilty to a three-count Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, and 100 grams or more of heroin; conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and cocaine base; and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 21, 2025. Rogers is eligible for a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison to a maximum of life.
According to the plea agreement, between July 2021 and November 2023, Rogers coordinated with his co-conspirators to traffic fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base in the District of Columbia and elsewhere. This included over 12 kilograms of fentanyl (including carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl), over 1967 grams of fentanyl analog (p-Fluorofentanyl, which is also more lethal than fentanyl), over 236 grams of heroin, over 500 grams of cocaine, and less than 28 grams of cocaine base.
On November 29, 2023, law enforcement executed search warrants at Rogers’ various residences.
At his apartment on the 1200 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW, law enforcement recovered an array of narcotics that included a large baggie containing 494.8 grams of mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil; another baggie with 704.8 grams of carfentanil, an envelope containing 115.91 grams of fentanyl; another baggie containing 201 grams of fentanyl; and baggies containing 1,785 grams acetaminophen and 18 grams of fentanyl. In addition, officers recovered a Smith & Wesson SD-40 firearm, a Glock 43 pistol, a Rugar LCP pistol, $23,000 in cash, and an assortment of drug packaging materials and scales.
At Roger’s residence on the 6500 block of Gateway Boulevard, in District Heights, Maryland, law enforcement recovered more narcotics and weapons including two baggies containing 151 grams of fentanyl; plastic bags containing 2.4 grams of xylazine and 1.8 grams of heroin; baggies containing bundles of smaller bags containing 7.7 grams of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, 1.4 grams of carfentanil, and 2.8 grams of acetaminophen, 20 small baggies containing 5.1 grams of fentanyl, heroin and xylazine; and bags containing 97.3 grams of heroin and fentanyl, 45.4 grams of cocaine base, and 14.2 grams of fentanyl with xylazine. Officers also recovered a Smith &Wesson .357 revolver, a Springfield XD 9mm firearm, a Canik TP9 pistol, assorted ammunition and magazines and $1,524 in cash.
At another residence utilized by Rogers located on the 2100 block of Pineview Court, Waldorf, Maryland, law enforcement recovered a FedEx parcel containing 1,013 grams of fentanyl.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is being investigated by the DEA Washington Division, the FBI Washington Field Office, the Alexandria Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Washington Field Division, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Montgomery County Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Interdiction Unit, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Arlington County Police, Montgomery County Department of Police, Virginia State Police, Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Eliopoulos and Matthew Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Section.
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First Degree Child Cruelty and Other Charges Filed in July 2023 Assault of Two-Year OldRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Woodson, 26, of Southeast Washington, D.C. was indicted today by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on three felony counts. Specifically, he is charged with one count of first degree child cruelty and one count of assault with significant bodily injury against a minor for his assault on a two-year-old victim, along with another felony charge from conduct directed at a separate adult the same day. The charges are in connection with an allegation that the defendant kicked a stranger’s two-year-old child down the escalator at the Mount Vernon Square metro station. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Woodson is detained while the case remains pending.
According to the government’s evidence, presented in police affidavits, on July 24, 2023 around 11:20 a.m., the victim’s mother was walking down the escalator at the Mount Vernon Square metro station when the defendant came up behind them. He then (without any prior interaction or provocation) kicked the two-year-old child, causing him to fall down the escalator, hitting his head and face. Woodson exited the station and the victim’s mother followed him while carrying the now-injured child victim. The victim’s mother followed the defendant out of the metro station and called 911, providing law enforcement with information about the defendant.
Responding MPD officers met the mother who gave them a lookout and, subsequently, officers stopped Woodson a short distance away. Medics arrived on scene and, noting that the two-year-old victim was bleeding from the head, advised the victim’s mother that he required transport to Children’s Hospital immediately. During transport, the victim lost consciousness. The victim remained hospitalized for approximately twelve hours and was diagnosed with a mild concussion before being sent home with his mother.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Ballou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Armed Felon Indicted Following Traffic Stop in Northwest D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Trevon Timothy Vines, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal gun charge in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Sean T. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Vines was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Person Convicted of a Crime Punishable by Imprisonment for a Term Exceeding One Year.
According to court documents, on March 15, 2025, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the vicinity of 1820 7th Street NW after observing a traffic infraction. It is alleged that during the course of the stop, officers observed several open containers of alcohol and requested that all occupants exit the vehicle.
It is alleged that one of the occupants, defendant Vines, was seated in the front passenger seat and holding a cup consistent with the others observed. As officers attempted to place Vines in handcuffs, they felt what they immediately recognized to be a handgun on his person in a front left jacket pocket. Vines then began physically resisting, grabbing one officer’s vest and attempting to move him while repeatedly reaching for the weapon forcibly.
Officers eventually recovered the firearm and discovered that it had been reported stolen from a gun dealer in White Plains, Maryland.
An investigation revealed that Vines is a convicted felon with multiple prior convictions. At the time of the incident, Vines was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal and D.C. law. He did not have a license to carry or own a firearm in the District of Columbia.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office, ATF Baltimore Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
This case is part of Make D.C. Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Serial Robber Pleads Guilty to Multiple Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David Crocker, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to multiple armed robberies and firearms charges stemming from a series of robberies near Anacostia Park in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor, of the United States Park Police, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Crocker pleaded guilty yesterday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to two counts of armed robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Crocker also pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a silver and black pistol on November 10, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2025, before the Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld. As part of his sentence, Crocker will be required to register as a gun offender.
According to the government’s evidence, the defendant robbed two individuals at gunpoint on December 18, 2023, in the vicinity of Anacostia Park. In the first offense, the defendant robbed an individual at gunpoint in the 2200 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE. Crocker brandished a black and silver pistol and took the victim’s phone, keys, and wallet before demanding the PINs to the victim’s Cash App account and credit cards.
Later the same day, the defendant robbed a different individual on the Anacostia Railroad Bridge. Crocker brandished the same silver and black pistol and took the victim’s bicycle, cell phone, keys, and wallet. The defendant again demanded the PINs to the victim’s Cash App account and credit cards. United States Park Police officers stopped and arrested Crocker moments later. They recovered the proceeds of the robbery and the silver and black pistol from the defendant.
This case was investigated by the United States Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig Ahalt for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Law Enforcement Arrests Man for Making Death Threats Toward Federal Official and MPD OfficerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Robert Andrew Cooper, 68, of Washington D.C., was arrested today and charged in a two-count federal indictment with repeatedly making threatening phone calls, in December 2024, during which he allegedly said he intended to kill a federal official and an officer of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Cooper is charged with two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure. He will make an initial appearance at 1:30 p.m. today.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“Make D.C. Safe Again” Initiative Gets Off to Fast Start, Doubling the Monthly Average since January 2021Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal firearms charges against 18 defendants in the month of March—twice the monthly average since January 2021—announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is continuing its work to Make D.C. Safe Again by aggressively prosecuting violent offenders, adopting eligible Superior Court cases into District Court, and coordinating federal and local resources,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. “Our efforts directly support the President’s Executive Order to restore law and order in the District and help make our nation’s capital not only safer, but also worthy of its place as the pride of every American.”
“We are committed to reducing violence by addressing the flow and supply of illegal firearms within the District, we at ATF will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners as well as the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure those who violate federal firearm laws and terrorize our communities with violence are held accountable and brought to justice for their crimes,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood. “We remain steadfast in our mission of fighting violent crime in D.C.”
During the month of March, the U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted 23 cases for federal prosecution, 18 of which have already been charged in the U.S. District Court. This is the highest number of case adoptions since before January 2021. As a result of this surge, more dangerous offenders are off the streets. Examples of these cases include:
- Traffic Stop in Southeast D.C. Leads to Federal Indictment, Firearm Recovery, and Drug Seizure.
- Three District Men Indicted Following Firearms Arrest During Early Morning Traffic Stop in Logan Circle.
- Repeat Felon on Probation Is Indicted for Alleged Possession of Ammunition.
Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating these cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term for Stabbing Safe Passage Ambassador in Deanwood Area of Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ray Stover, 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday, March 28, 2025, to 120 months in prison for stabbing a Safe Passage Ambassador near the campus of Ron Brown High School in Washington, DC, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Stover pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to kill in February 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Following the completion of his term of imprisonment, Stover was ordered to complete a three-year term of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 5, 2024, the victim was working for D.C. Safe Passage, helping students travel safely to and from school, at his post near 45th Street and Meade Street, NE. Around 12:30 p.m., Stover approached the victim while yelling profanities. Although the victim did not know Stover, Stover brandished a knife and swung it at the victim’s leg causing the victim to collapse to the ground. Stover then proceeded to stab the victim six additional times in his chest, back, and leg. Neighbors who found the victim called 911, and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment for multiple stab wounds.
Ring camera footage from a nearby residence captured the attack, which was ultimately used to develop Stover’s identity as the attacker. Stover was apprehended on July 23, 2024, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metro Transit Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Claire Hoover and Katerina Shelly, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Traffic Stop in Southeast D.C. Leads to Federal Indictment, Firearm Recovery, and Drug SeizureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ikea Gartrell, 35, of Washington D.C., has been indicted on federal gun charges in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Gartrell was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, following her March 1st arrest in Southeast D.C.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:49 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department personnel conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of Barnaby Street SE, Washington, D.C. Officers then made contact with the driver, later identified as Ikea Gartrell, who was allegedly found to be operating without a valid license.
During the stop, it is alleged that an open container of alcohol was observed, prompting officers to ask all occupants to exit the vehicle. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a loaded, unregistered firearm on Gartrell’s person. Gartrell was placed under arrest for Carrying a Pistol Without a License (CPWL) and no permit.
Records indicated Gartrell had a prior felony conviction.
The investigation is ongoing.
The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.
This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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More Prison Time for the Stabbing of Another Inmate at D.C. JailRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Brock, 33, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to three years in prison, for stabbing a fellow inmate, in D.C. Jail on January 24, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brock pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe ordered Brock to serve his three-year prison term to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The defendant admitted that on January 22, 2025, inside the D.C. Jail located at 1901 D Street, SE, the victim, an inmate at the jail, was walking with a correctional officer. Brock, also incarcerated there, approached him from behind and started stabbing the victim in the shoulder and back, with what appeared to be a makeshift knife. The correctional officer deployed OC spray at Brock, who then ran up the stairs, and shook off the attempted apprehension of another corrections officer, who was trying to detain him. Brock attempted to give the knife to other inmates, but when they refused to take it, he dropped it on the ground. He was apprehended a short time later.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Ison and Randy Fultz, who prosecuted the case.