WASHINGTON – Rhondell Williams, a 39-year-old convicted felon from Southeast Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 14 months in prison for illegal possession of a loaded ghost gun, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced today. This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat gun violence in the District, especially in neighborhoods plagued by crime.
Williams pleaded guilty on December 15, 2025, to multiple firearms-related charges, including unlawful possession of ammunition and a firearm by a convicted felon, as well as possession of a prohibited weapon. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Loren L. AliKhan mandated three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had sought a longer sentence of 28 months, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses.
The incident occurred on April 4, 2025, at approximately 6:15 p.m., when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division observed Williams on Pomeroy Road SE with an open bottle of tequila. Upon attempting to detain him for the open container, officers discovered a cross-body satchel containing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic ghost gun. This firearm was privately manufactured, lacked a serial number, and thus was untraceable by law enforcement. During his arrest, Williams also tested positive for amphetamines.
This case is part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative, an effort aligning with President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at reducing gun violence, prioritizing federal firearms violations, and enforcing tougher penalties for offenders. Williams’ criminal history includes two prior felony convictions for illegal firearms possession in 2007 and 2017, with a documented pattern of failing to comply with court-ordered supervision.
The investigation was conducted collaboratively by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand prosecuted the case, which serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in addressing illegal firearms in the District of Columbia.
Read the original article at usao