Convicted Killer Wendell Smith Sentenced for Illegal Gun Possession

WENDELL SMITH, 60, a repeat offender from Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded Glock firearm. Smith, who was already serving time for first-degree murder, was stopped by police on the Suitland Parkway for speeding.

The court documents reveal that on November 4, 2024, U.S. Park Police officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a black Mercedes speeding near Alabama Ave. SE. The driver, identified as Smith, was asked to exit his vehicle upon presentation of his driver’s license. A K-9 unit signaled the presence of controlled substances in the car.

During a thorough search, police recovered a Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol with 13 rounds of ammunition from the passenger seat and over $78,000 in cash from the floor of the vehicle.

The defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon on April 18, 2025. Alongside his prison sentence, Smith was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan.

Chief Jessica Taylor of the U.S. Park Police joined U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro in announcing the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Strong prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Park Police.

Smith’s initial conviction for first-degree murder while armed and other offenses came from D.C. Superior Court in February 1990, where he was sentenced to 20 years to life. His current sentence of 32 months marks a significant addition to his already lengthy record.