Amard Jefferson, a 26-year-old resident of Ft. Washington, Maryland, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the 2021 murder of Kendall Brown. The sentencing also included charges of obstruction of justice related to his efforts to convince his girlfriend to claim responsibility for the crime, as announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Jefferson was found guilty by a jury on December 20, 2024. The charges included second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, and obstructing justice. In addition to his prison sentence, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt imposed three years of supervised release.
Government evidence showed that on August 7, 2021, Kendall Brown, aged 20, was shot by Jefferson at the apartment of his girlfriend. The incident began as a verbal argument when Brown, accompanied by two others, returned to the apartment to collect personal items. Jefferson escalated the confrontation by brandishing a firearm and threatening to “call his men.” He later shot Brown and left the scene, having stashed the weapon—a black 9mm ghost gun—nearby. Jefferson then attempted to obstruct justice by persuading his girlfriend to falsely confess to the murder through messages and calls from the D.C. Department of Corrections.
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith acknowledged the work of the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in investigating and prosecuting the case. Special recognition was given to Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Kukowski for her investigative work, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Clark and Stephanie Dinan for prosecuting the case.
In addition, several members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office were commended for their contributions, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Han, Paralegal Specialists Sharon Newman, Meredith McGarrity, Lashone Samuels, and Lisa Minott, as well as others involved in victim support and investigation.