Timothy Eugene Taylor, a repeat felon from Washington D.C., has offered up a guilty plea to federal charges related to illegal weapons possession and drug distribution. At 36 years old, Taylor's rap sheet expanded when he admitted to having a loaded firearm and a substantial amount of phencyclidine, or PCP, in his possession back in August 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Law enforcement encountered Taylor, whose criminal history is well-documented – four substantial convictions since 2007, on routine patrol in Southeast D.C. A conspicuous "L-shaped" bulge in his crossbody satchel prompted suspicion, which quickly escalated into a foot chase and his subsequent arrest after a failed attempt to subtly flee the scene. Officers would uncover not only the firearm — a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 2.0 semi-automatic gun — but also several vials of PCP, indicative of distribution intentions rather than personal use.
In a post-arrest interview, Taylor didn't shy away from admitting his ownership of the gun and his drug-dealing actions. With a history of matching felonies, including a 2020 brush with federal firearms charges, Taylor was already prohibited from gun possession under federal law, thus compounding the seriousness of his recent infractions.
Taylor, who was arrested on Oct. 27, 2023, has been detained without bond ever since. Now faced with a possible 35-year maximum prison sentence and up to a $1,250,000 fine. His sentencing is set to be orchestrated on April 2, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Beyond the latest charges, Taylor's persistent defiance of his supervised release, stemming from his 2020 conviction, could tack on an additional 24 months behind bars. This case is part of a larger enforcement effort, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney, with Christine A. Pattison and Katherine M. Toth having contributed in earlier stages.
