In a move that underscores the federal push to stem gun violence in the nation's capital, 39-year-old District of Columbia resident Kevin Hopkins has entered a guilty plea on a firearms charge. Hopkins, a man with a history of felony convictions, found himself again on the wrong side of the law when he admitted to unlawfully possessing both a firearm and ammunition, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
This latest development came to pass last Friday, as Hopkins stood before U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb in response to an indictment against him. The guilty plea fell under the ongoing "Make D.C. Safe Again" campaign, part of a wider initiative derived from President Trump's executive order geared towards reducing crime and bolstering the safety aesthetic of Washington, D.C. Despite the broader goals of the initiative, Hopkins is now awaiting his November 7 sentencing.
The case unfolded when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, carrying out a residential search warrant, discovered a 9mm handgun secreted within the cushions of an apartment sofa. Additionally, Hopkins has acknowledged ownership of the 14 rounds of ammunition that were loaded in the weapon's magazine. His criminal record precludes him from legal firearm possession, with prior convictions including assault, burglary, and stalking.
Noteworthy in this indictment are the contributions of various agencies, specifically highlighted by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro in her announcement. The collaborative enforcement effort included the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood, along with Chief Pamela Smith of the MPD. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Levy and Kate Naseef are tasked with the prosecution of the Hopkins case.
