On March 7, 2025, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Jesus Manuel, a 44-year-old resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 58 months in federal prison. This sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division (ATF).
According to the plea agreement, on October 28, 2023, at around 10:30 p.m., a Riverdale Park Police officer arrived at a restaurant in Riverdale Park, Maryland to work as a security guard. A restaurant employee informed the officer that Jesus Manuel had attempted to enter earlier with a fanny pack that might have contained a firearm. The employee provided the officer with Manuel's physical description.
Later that night at approximately 2:30 a.m., an altercation in the restaurant parking lot prompted two male patrons to inform the officer that Manuel had threatened them with a firearm. Both pointed towards him as he stood near the restaurant’s kitchen door wearing the same fanny pack.
When officers approached Manuel at about 3:10 a.m., he attempted to flee but was apprehended after discarding his fanny pack. An officer retrieved it and found inside a Glock model 21 .45 caliber pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. Due to previous felony convictions, Manuel was prohibited from possessing both items.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through community collaboration and strategic enforcement priorities.
United States Attorney Hayes praised the efforts of ATF and Riverdale Park Police in this case and thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke Oki and Dawn Williams for their prosecution work.
Further information on initiatives by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be accessed via their official website.