Scooter Crash Uncovers Felon With Loaded Revolver

WASHINGTON D.C. – A reckless ride and a collision with law enforcement led to the exposure of a dangerous felon and a substantial prison sentence. Derrick Howard, 30, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 21 months behind bars for illegally possessing a loaded firearm, a Rohm .38 special revolver. The discovery of the weapon came after Howard crashed his unlicensed motor scooter into a marked police cruiser, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

On January 27, 2025, at 7:15 a.m., Howard blew through a red light at the intersection of New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE, slamming into an MPD vehicle. The officer involved immediately called for backup, reporting the accident. A responding detective quickly discovered a litany of issues with Howard’s operation of the scooter – no tags, no helmet, no license, and an unregistered vehicle. Howard was promptly arrested.

But the traffic violations were just the beginning. A search of a satchel bag worn by Howard revealed the loaded .38, containing five rounds of ammunition. The weapon’s presence instantly escalated the charges, landing Howard in federal court facing unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025.

This wasn’t Howard’s first brush with the law, and certainly not his first conviction. Court records reveal a pattern of escalating criminal behavior. Howard previously served time for assault with a dangerous weapon in 2021, and racked up two convictions for unauthorized use of a vehicle, in 2019 and 2017. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, includes three years of supervised release following his 21-month prison term.

The investigation was a joint effort, led by Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The MPD initiated the investigation, which was then prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. The case number is 25cr41.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to keep illegal firearms off the streets of Washington D.C. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by convicted felons in possession of weapons and the diligent work of law enforcement in protecting the public.