WASHINGTON D.C. – Bryan D. Moles, 44, of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, has pled guilty to a firearms offense after a cache of weapons was discovered in his vehicle parked at the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington last year. The bust raises questions about security around high-profile locations and the ease with which individuals can transport firearms into the nation’s capital.
According to court documents, Moles drove from Pennsylvania in May 2017, stashing a Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol and a Bushmaster Carbon-15 .2235.56mm caliber rifle in his car before the trip. The pistol was left in an unlocked glove compartment, and the rifle resided in an unlocked case in the rear hatchback. He informed hotel staff upon arrival that he had firearms in the vehicle, then checked in as a guest.
The Secret Service, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Metropolitan Police Department, quickly descended on Moles’ hotel room. Inside, agents found not only confirmation of the firearms in the car but also marijuana and a vaporizer. Moles admitted to regular marijuana use, a key factor rendering him ineligible to legally possess a firearm in the District of Columbia.
Moles initially was released, but his freedom was short-lived. A judge revoked his pretrial release just two weeks later after determining he’d violated the terms of his release. He’s remained in custody ever since. He pled guilty to carrying a pistol without a license, a District of Columbia offense. Federal prosecutors agreed to drop a more serious federal firearms charge included in a June 2017 indictment.
The plea agreement stipulates that Moles will forfeit all firearms recovered from both his vehicle and his Pennsylvania home. He now faces a potential prison sentence of six to 24 months, as per District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, along with a fine of up to $12,500. The statutory maximum for the charge is five years imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for September 7, 2018, before Judge Richard J. Leon.
The investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Ebert of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Thomas L. Chittum III of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham, highlights the ongoing challenges of securing the nation’s capital and enforcing strict gun control laws in a region with varying regulations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Friedman is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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