Nelson Bryant, a 31-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., faces a federal firearm charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. This indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., alongside Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The initiative, led by U.S. Attorney Martin, aims to curb gun violence in the District of Columbia by prioritizing federal firearms violations and toughening penalties for offenders. The program also focuses on advocating for the detention of those found violating federal firearm laws.
Bryant is accused of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon due to a prior conviction which prohibits him from owning firearms. Court documents reveal that on June 9, 2024, MPD officers on foot patrol were informed by a citizen about a man with a firearm on the 1900 block of 9th Street NW. Officers subsequently identified Bryant as fitting the description. During their stop, Bryant allegedly handed a handgun to another individual in a nearby crowd. This unknown person reportedly dropped the handgun and fled the scene.
The firearm remains at the location where the unknown individual abandoned it, and Bryant was apprehended by MPD officers immediately thereafter.
The investigative effort was jointly handled by the ATF and MPD, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Galloway and Emory V. Cole handling the prosecution. Authorities remind the public that an indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.