SPRINGFIELD, IL – Demetrius S. Washington, 27, of Springfield, Illinois, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade after being sentenced to 108 months – nine years – on December 6th. Washington received 96 months for possession of a weapon by a felon and an additional 12 months consecutive for wire fraud. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, reflects a pattern of brazen criminality linking gun violence to pandemic-era fraud.
The case began unraveling in March 2022, when Washington, already a convicted felon, was found with a loaded Glock firearm boasting a 50-round drum magazine during an unrelated arrest. Ballistics testing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) quickly connected the weapon to a shooting that occurred in October 2021. ATF’s Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed the Glock was used in a shooting where Washington allegedly provided the firearm to a juvenile who then opened fire on an occupied sedan in a gas station parking lot. Thankfully, no one was injured in that incident.
But the gun wasn’t Washington’s only scheme. Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing revealed that in the six months following the shooting, he was actively attempting to acquire more firearms. Simultaneously, Washington was exploiting the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, fraudulently obtaining over $10,843.84. He’s now been ordered to pay full restitution to the SBA. Judge Lawless didn’t mince words, stating that Washington’s actions forced innocent citizens to flee for their safety, and that the sentence was necessary for public protection and deterrence.
“The ready availability of guns has caused an unacceptable spike of violence in our communities,” declared U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “For the protection of our community, we warn individuals contributing to such violence that federal, state and local government agencies are working together to hold you accountable. We also will continue to prosecute COVID fraudsters and work to recover pandemic relief funds that were fraudulently obtained.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division highlighted the importance of “Crime Gun Intelligence” and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) in connecting weapons to crimes. “This case illustrates how NIBIN helps law enforcement prioritize offenders who illegally possess firearms that were used in shootings,” Amon stated. Washington has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service since his federal arrest on April 26, 2022. He pleaded guilty to both the firearm charge and three counts of wire fraud on April 14, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught.
The penalties for Washington’s crimes are substantial. Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Wire fraud carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and the same $250,000 fine. Springfield Police Department officials also reiterated their commitment to combating gun violence and holding offenders accountable, signaling a continued push for safer streets in the Illinois capital.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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