Charles Wesley Monroe, a 19-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., faced indictment today on a federal firearms charge after allegedly being found with a loaded weapon in April of this year. Charged with possessing a 9mm Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 semiautomatic pistol and corresponding ammunition, Monroe was previously convicted of a felony punishable by over a year's imprisonment, making it illegal for him to have a firearm, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Upon responding to an unrelated offense on April 29, MPD officers witnessed Monroe's sudden attempt to flee unprovoked in the 1400 block of Girard Street Northwest. Having returned to the scene later, clutching his waist as he ducked into an apartment stairwell, Monroe was apprehended and a nearby firearm was recovered. The FBI Laboratory matched DNA from the weapon and magazine to Monroe, as the U.S. Attorney's Office disclosed. Running under an apartment building stairwell, officers located Monroe and the firearm nearby after he evaded police earlier that day.
Since his arrest on that same day, Monroe has been detained without bond. His previous conviction for robbery, dated September 2023, directly informs the latest charges under federal law. If convicted for this new charge, Monroe could be facing a significant penalty — up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, though ultimate sentencing is determined by the court, referencing the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The ATF, in conjunction with MPD, spearheaded the investigation into Monroe's case as a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods, with the FBI Laboratory providing substantial analytical support. The prosecution of the case falls to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle M. McWaters and Paul V. Courtney, backed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustın Horner. Although an indictment signifies formal charges, it is not a proof of guilt, and Monroe is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
