Derrick Howard, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, Washington 2025

WASHINGTON – A previously convicted felon took a hard fall yesterday with a 21-month prison sentence for what could have been a relatively minor traffic accident. Derrick Howard, 30, was found to be in illegal possession of a Rohm .38 special revolver after he crashed his unlicensed motor scooter into a marked police cruiser in Washington DC.

According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Howard pleaded guilty on Apr. 11, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentencing came after a chaotic morning on Jan. 27, 2025, at 7:15 a.m., when Howard ran a red light and struck a marked police vehicle at the intersection of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE.

The investigating officers reported that Howard was not wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the crash, and that his motorized scooter had no tags. A search incident to the arrest turned up a Rohm .38 special caliber revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition from a satchel bag around Howard’s neck.

This is not Howard’s first trip to the slammer. His criminal history includes previous convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon in 2021, unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2019, and unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2017.

Howard will spend the next 21 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, as ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell. The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.

The sentencing was also attended by Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The officials commended the swift action taken by the responding officers and the thorough investigation that led to the conviction of a dangerous individual.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Related Federal Cases