Marquette Hudson Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Purchases

A Washington, D.C. man admitted in federal court today to lying on federal forms to illegally buy eight firearms in Virginia. Marquette Hudson, 26, pleaded guilty to knowingly providing false information to a federal firearms licensee (FFL), including listing an Arlington address as his residence when he didn’t live in Virginia.

Hudson’s purchases were made through two FFLs in the Eastern District of Virginia. Each time, he filled out ATF Form 4473 with fabricated details to bypass federal background checks. The ruse worked—until law enforcement began tracing firearms recovered from violent offenders. Six of the guns Hudson bought were later seized by D.C. police, including two found in the hands of convicted felons prohibited from possessing firearms.

“Hudson’s criminal conduct perfectly encapsulates the dangerous problem of illegally purchased firearms being trafficked in Virginia,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “In this case, there were two firearms found in the possession of convicted felons who were prohibited from owning a firearm. This created a major risk for our communities. We will continue to bring justice against those who perpetuate this dangerous trafficking and threaten to put our communities in danger.”

Hudson pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement during a firearm purchase—a felony carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11 before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III. While federal sentences often fall below the maximum, prosecutors stress the ripple danger of illegal gun trafficking, particularly when weapons end up in the hands of violent offenders.

The case falls under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s national initiative to combat gun violence by strengthening enforcement of federal firearms laws. Launched in 2019, the program enhances coordination between federal, state, and local agencies, improves tracking of prohibited purchasers, and directs resources at the most dangerous offenders. The ATF’s Washington Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict, played a key role in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy, II and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Hallmark are prosecuting the case. Court documents, including the plea agreement, are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER under Case No. 1:20-cr-168. The U.S. Attorney’s Office maintains a public copy of the original press release on its website.