WASHINGTON D.C. – Melvin Johnson, 27, of Washington D.C., is headed to federal prison for 5.5 years after being convicted of trafficking crack cocaine and illegally stashing a pair of firearms – including a dangerous ‘ghost gun’ – while already out on bail for a prior gun charge. The sentence, handed down today by U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon, sends a clear message: playing fast and loose with firearms and narcotics in the nation’s capital carries serious consequences.
According to court documents, Johnson pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025, to unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The 66-month sentence is followed by a mandatory three years of supervised release. The case was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.
The trouble began August 17, 2021, around 4:15 p.m. when Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of drug activity in the 3500 block of 14th Street NW. Spotting Johnson on a scooter nearby, officers initiated a stop and asked if he was carrying anything illegal. Johnson claimed he only had personal belongings – a lie quickly exposed when officers noticed a suspicious bulge in his bag, hinting at an extended magazine and a heavy object. A search revealed a loaded Glock 29 semi-automatic pistol, packed with 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition in an extended magazine, along with an additional magazine holding 16 rounds.
But the Glock wasn’t the only thing Johnson was packing. Officers also discovered $1,203 in cash and 26 grams of a white rock substance stuffed inside his spandex pants. A field test confirmed the substance as cocaine base. The bust came while Johnson was already on pre-trial release for a February 28, 2020, incident where MPD officers recovered a loaded “ghost gun” – an untraceable firearm – from him on the 1500 block of Meridian Place NW. That weapon was also equipped with a laser pointer.
This wasn’t a first-time offender slip-up. Johnson’s history as a convicted felon already barred him from possessing firearms. The brazen disregard for the law, compounded by his actions while on release, clearly angered the court. The MPD’s investigation proved crucial in building the case against Johnson, showcasing effective local-federal collaboration.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated the sentencing demonstrates a commitment to removing dangerous individuals and illegal weapons from D.C. streets. Case number 21cr535. While 66 months won’t solve the city’s problems, it’s one less dealer and two fewer guns on the streets for a while. The Grimy Times will continue to follow the fallout of this case and report on the ongoing struggle against violent crime in the District.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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