Charles Washington, Jr., a 33-year-old Washington, D.C. resident and repeat felon, faces federal charges for possessing ammunition while on probation, according to a federal indictment recently filed. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Edward Martin Jr., alongside the ATF's Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood and MPD Chief Pamela Smith, as reported on the U.S. Attorney's Office website.
Responding to a call on March 12, MPD officers encountered Washington and several others congregated near a grey car in the 2800 block of Alabama Ave. SE. Under the watch of law enforcement, Washington fled, clutching his waistband, and was observed dropping an object into a sewer drain before stumbling to a stop. Upon lifting the manhole cover, officers found a black "ghost gun," a firearm assembled from parts not serialized or registered, equipped with a loaded magazine—12 rounds with one in the chamber.
Washington, whose past criminal record includes convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, is now waiting for a detention hearing scheduled on March 25. The investigation is a collaborative effort between the MPD and the ATF, with the prosecution being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
This indictment ties into the broader "Make DC Safe Again" initiative, an effort spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Martin to bolster resources aimed at reducing violent crime within the District. It is important to remember that an indictment is not a conviction. Washington, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
