D.C. Gunman Gets Two Years for Stolen Glock

A D.C. man with a history of gun offenses is heading to federal prison for two years after being caught with a handgun stolen from a Virginia gun shop. Charles General, 29, received the sentence today from U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, adding to a growing list of firearm convictions being aggressively pursued by the feds in the nation’s capital.

On October 13, 2023, plainclothes officers with the Metropolitan Police Department were conducting routine patrols in the 1400 block of Cedar Street SE when they observed General and a small group openly smoking marijuana in a parking lot. The smell of weed prompted the officers to intervene, and a subsequent search of General revealed a loaded Glock 30S .45 caliber pistol tucked into his coat pocket. It wasn’t a legal carry. It wasn’t even *his* gun.

Investigators quickly traced the weapon back to a burglary at a gun shop in Springfield, Virginia – a break-in that remains under investigation. But the stolen firearm wasn’t the only problem. Court records show General already had a prior conviction in D.C. Superior Court for carrying a pistol without a license. That past offense automatically elevated the current charge to a federal felony, significantly increasing the potential penalties.

Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, successfully argued that General posed a continued threat to public safety. The charge itself – unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon – carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. While Mehta opted for a 24-month sentence, the judge also tacked on three years of supervised release, meaning General will be monitored by probation officers after he gets out.

The case underscores a broader initiative, launched during the Trump administration and continuing under current leadership, to crack down on gun crime in D.C. Known as the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative,” the program aims to aggressively prosecute individuals involved in illegal gun possession and trafficking, and to push for harsher sentencing guidelines. Critics argue the program disproportionately impacts minority communities, but the feds maintain it’s a necessary step to curb the city’s rising violence.

The ATF played a crucial role in the investigation, assisting MPD with the tracing of the stolen weapon and providing forensic expertise. The collaboration highlights the increasing emphasis on interagency cooperation in tackling gun crime at the federal level. This isn’t just about one stolen Glock; it’s about disrupting the flow of illegal firearms into a city already grappling with high rates of gun violence.

Beyond the immediate sentence, General’s felony conviction will have lasting consequences. He will be prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms in the future, and the conviction could impact his ability to secure employment or housing. The feds are sending a clear message: possessing illegal weapons in D.C. will not be tolerated, and repeat offenders will face the full weight of the law.

This case comes on the heels of other recent high-profile D.C. convictions, including a life sentence handed down to a driver involved in a road rage incident. The feds appear determined to demonstrate a tough-on-crime stance, even as debates continue over the most effective strategies for reducing violence in the nation’s capital.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice