D.C. Felon Packs Heat, Gets 2 Years in Federal Lockup

A D.C. man with a history of gun charges is heading to prison for two years after the feds caught him carrying a stolen handgun. Charles General, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and being a felon in possession of a handgun – charges that carry serious weight in a city already grappling with a surge in gun violence.

On October 13, 2023, plainclothes officers with the D.C. Metro Police Department were conducting routine patrols in the area of Cedar Street SE when they spotted General and a small group openly smoking marijuana in a parking lot. The smell of weed was enough to warrant a closer look, and a legal pat-down of General quickly revealed the Glock 30S .45 caliber pistol concealed in his coat pocket. It wasn’t the simple possession that sealed his fate, however; investigators soon discovered the gun had been illegally obtained.

The Glock, it turned out, was reported stolen during a burglary of a licensed firearms dealer in Springfield, Virginia, just weeks prior. The serial number had been intentionally defaced, a common tactic used by criminals to obscure the gun’s history and prevent tracing. This added the charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, significantly increasing the potential penalty. But the biggest blow to General’s case was his prior felony conviction. In 2018, he was convicted of carrying a pistol without a license – a conviction that, under federal law, permanently disqualifies him from legally possessing any firearm.

Federal prosecutors argued that General’s repeated disregard for gun laws posed a clear and present danger to the community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole, who led the prosecution, successfully argued that the two-year sentence was justified given the circumstances. Sentencing guidelines for a felon in possession of a firearm typically range from 15 to 37 months, but the addition of the stolen gun and obliterated serial number charges pushed the sentence to the higher end of that range. He’ll also face three years of supervised release after serving his time, meaning he’ll be monitored by a probation officer and subject to restrictions on his movement and activities.

The bust was a collaborative effort between the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF’s involvement highlights the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating firearms violations in the District. This case was also presented as part of the “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative – a program launched during the Trump administration aimed at aggressively targeting gun violence and illegal firearms trafficking. While the program’s effectiveness remains debated, it continues to influence federal prosecution priorities in the nation’s capital.

This isn’t an isolated incident. D.C. continues to struggle with a high rate of gun violence, and federal prosecutors are under pressure to deliver results. The case bears a striking resemblance to a recent life sentence handed down to a D.C. driver involved in a road rage shooting, demonstrating the increasingly harsh penalties being sought for gun-related offenses. The feds are sending a clear message: carrying an illegal firearm in D.C. will not be tolerated.

Beyond the immediate sentence, General’s conviction will likely have lasting consequences. A federal felony conviction can severely limit employment opportunities, housing options, and even the ability to travel internationally. It’s a life-altering punishment, even after he’s completed his prison term. The case number is 23cr402, and it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against illegal guns on the streets of Washington, D.C.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice