A Springfield man with a criminal past and a knack for fraud has been slapped with a nine-year federal prison sentence. Demetrius S. Washington, 27, was hit with 96 months for illegal gun possession as a felon, with an additional year tacked on for swindling the Small Business Administration out of over $10,000 through wire fraud during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois.
U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, who presided over the case, emphasized the severity of Washington's conduct, which caused Springfield citizens to "flee for safety." She considered the sentence as a means to protect the public and to deter similar criminal acts. Despite having a previous felony conviction, Washington was nabbed in March 2022, clutching a fully loaded Glock equipped with an extravagantly high-capacity drum magazine. This weapon was later linked to a prior shooting in October 2021, evidence that U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris pointed out this to demonstrate the community's struggle with rampant gun violence.
Additional investigations revealed Washington's role in handing the firearm to a juvenile, which led to shots being fired at an occupied car, although fortunately no one was injured. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was able to confirm the gun's involvement in the shooting using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon lauded Crime Gun Intelligence, such as NIBIN, as a pivotal tool in prioritizing offenders who possess weapons unlawfully used in gun violence.
Washington, in custody since his federal arrest on April 26, 2022, admitted guilt to the weapons violation and three counts of wire fraud earlier this year. On April 14, Sarah E. Seberger, Assistant U.S. Attorney, spearheaded the government's case in court. Conjunctly, the ready availability of guns has been linked by U.S. Attorney Harris to an "unacceptable spike" in community violence, with stringent warnings issued to those fueling such mayhem.
The firearms case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a nationwide push to reduce violent crime and gun violence across communities. Building on fostering trust, supporting organizations that help prevent violence, and focusing on strategic enforcement, the initiative aims for a safer America. Moreover, residents are urged to report suspected COVID-19 benefit fraud through the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or its website. This case underscores the collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies in clamping down on gun violence and fraudulent exploitation of the COVID-19 crisis.
