WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Southeast Washington resident, 27-year-old Kelvin Leon, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for possessing a machine gun and discharging it from his apartment window. The sentencing took place today in U.S. District Court, with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announcing the verdict.
Leon pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, to one count of possession of a machine gun and one count of endangerment with a firearm. Following his prison term, he is set to be deported to Venezuela. This case underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence and public safety in Washington, D.C., particularly in the Southeast quadrant, where the incident occurred.
The case dates back to July 24, 2025, when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division responded to reports of gunfire at 2400 Marion Barry Ave. An anonymous tipster alerted authorities about a man firing a weapon out of an apartment window. Upon executing a search warrant, officers discovered a privately manufactured pistol, which lacked a serial number and was therefore untraceable. The firearm was modified with a device that allowed it to fire continuously with a single pull of the trigger, effectively converting it into a machine gun.
During the investigation, Leon admitted to firing the weapon following a dispute with two individuals regarding scooters parked outside his apartment building. He revealed that he had purchased the firearm three weeks prior to the incident and obtained the conversion device shortly thereafter, learning how to install it via online tutorials.
The investigation was jointly conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, reflecting the commitment of law enforcement to combat illegal firearms and enhance public safety in the nation’s capital.
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