GERMANTOWN, MD – Dwight Luis Clarke, a 32-year-old resident of Germantown, Maryland, is headed to federal prison for a decade after admitting to running a dangerous operation peddling crack cocaine and firearms, including untraceable “ghost guns,” to an undercover law enforcement officer. Clarke received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang on Friday, January 6, 2023, alongside a four-year period of supervised release following his incarceration.
The case, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), reveals a brazen disregard for the law. Clarke wasn’t just selling drugs; he was actively supplying weapons – five of which were privately manufactured firearms with no serial numbers, commonly known as “ghost guns” – to someone he knew was law enforcement. The transactions took place between late 2021 and early 2022, exposing a clear pattern of criminal activity.
According to court documents, the ATF undercover officer first connected with Clarke in February 2022. Over three meetings that month, Clarke unloaded a cache of weaponry and narcotics: two Polymer80 Inc. 9mm “ghost guns,” a .22-caliber AR-style pistol, a 33-round 9mm magazine loaded with a single cartridge, a .22-caliber AR-style magazine with three cartridges, a box of .22LR ammunition containing 95 rounds, a .380 caliber pistol, and 44.48 grams of crack cocaine. Clarke even admitted to the UC that he couldn’t legally purchase firearms himself due to a prior felony conviction, acknowledging their shared legal predicament.
The deals didn’t stop there. Later in February, Clarke agreed to sell three more fully assembled “ghost guns” – also Polymer80 Inc. 9mm pistols – for $3,000. A subsequent search of Clarke’s residence and vehicle in March 2022 turned up even more firearms and ammunition. While Clarke wasn’t present during the search, he was quickly apprehended after attempting to finalize another sale with the UC. Police recovered a Polymer80 pistol Clarke tried to ditch before his arrest and seized an additional 54.78 grams of crack cocaine.
Clarke was ultimately convicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He readily admitted to his prior felony conviction, which prohibited him from owning firearms, and acknowledged the connection between his drug trafficking and the illegal weapons sales. The sentence sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron emphasized that this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime. The PSN program, a proven crime-reduction strategy, aims to make communities safer by targeting individuals like Clarke who pose a threat to public safety. Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones and Rockville City Police Chief Victor Brito also contributed to the investigation.
Related Federal Cases
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- No Names Given, Prescription Drug Trafficking, TX, 2023 · Texas
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- Jeremy Mack, Human Trafficking and Drug Crimes, OH, 2023 · Ohio
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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