In a recent development for the "Make D.C. Safe Again" campaign, 32-year-old Ricky Howard has been indicted by U.S. District Court on charges of unlawful firearm possession. This initiative, spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., targets gun violence in the District and signals a direct response to the city’s ongoing battle with violent crimes. The indictment, communicated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, marks a concerted effort by federal and local law enforcement to impose sharper penalties and hold violators in pretrial detention.
Howard, previously sentenced in 2013 for armed robbery, became entangled with the law again after an incident related to a domestic dispute last June. When officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 911 call, they spotted Howard with a rifle. Yet by the time their investigation commenced, Howard had already stowed the weapon inside his residence. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a black firearm placed strategically under a vehicle associated with Howard's wife, and it's DNA analysis added weight to the accusations against him.
The collaborative efforts of both the MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division have brought this case to the forefront of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" campaign. While the initiative itself is robust in resources, it stands on the frontlines not just in interception of illegal weapons, but also in its advocacy for the safety and well-being of the communities that such violence breaches.
With his past convictions for robbery and threatening behavior, Howard is barred from owning any firearms, a status confirmed by both the ATF Washington Field Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. His history, outlined by judicial records from the Circuit Court for Prince George’s Court, underscores the complexities of crime and punishment within the district’s bounds. The Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia now has the onerous task of prosecuting this case, as Howard faces the consequence of his latest alleged transgression.
