Frank Washington III, Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon, Indiana 2025

HAMMOND, IN – Another thug off the streets of Northwest Indiana. Frank Washington III, 37, of Merrillville, is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars after being sentenced to 70 months in federal prison yesterday. Senior Judge Moody delivered the sentence after Washington pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon – a charge carrying serious weight, and rightfully so.

Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor announced the sentencing, a direct result of a February 2025 bust in Gary. Washington, already sporting a rap sheet riddled with multiple prior robbery convictions, was caught red-handed with a stolen firearm, fully loaded with ammunition. This wasn’t a momentary lapse; reports show Washington brazenly drove around with the weapon openly displayed in a holster on his waist on multiple occasions that month.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force led the investigation, working alongside the Gary Police Department. These are the dedicated professionals putting themselves on the line daily to keep our communities from descending into total chaos. Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring Washington faced the full weight of the law.

This case isn’t just about one criminal and one gun. It’s a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federally-funded initiative aimed at dismantling violent crime and gun violence at the local level. PSN brings together law enforcement at all levels – federal, state, and local – alongside community organizations to address the root causes of violence and build safer neighborhoods. The current iteration of PSN, launched in May 2021, emphasizes trust-building, community support, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.

Washington’s 70-month sentence is followed by a three-year period of supervised release. Let’s be clear: that’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card. He’ll be monitored, and any further missteps will send him right back where he belongs. This sentencing sends a clear message to others contemplating similar criminal activity: Northwest Indiana will not tolerate gun violence, and we will prosecute those who choose to endanger our communities to the fullest extent of the law.

The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and report on the ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in Indiana. Stay tuned for further updates as we dig deeper into the underbelly of criminal activity plaguing our nation.