Dewayne Keith Miles, 29, from Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge under the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The announcement came from 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 "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative is a public safety campaign led by U.S. Attorney Martin, focusing on reducing violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative aims to tackle gun violence by prioritizing federal firearms violations, pursuing harsher penalties for offenders, and seeking detention for those violating federal firearms laws.
Miles faces a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Court documents revealed that on March 15, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., MPD officers, while investigating a robbery in Southeast Washington, D.C., heard gunfire nearby. Officers supposedly saw Miles firing a gun into the air in front of a residence on Benning Road, SE.
As officers moved closer, Miles allegedly fled into the residence. At the scene, the police recovered thirteen 9mm cartridge casings and a Smith & Wesson SD9 handgun located near the casings. It was later confirmed that the firearm, consistent with the type used, had been reported stolen from the Richmond City Police Department.
According to court documents, officers secured the residence, detained its occupants, and subsequently arrested Miles after he emerged from the building. A search found a live 9mm round in his possession, matching the ammunition discovered on the street. The firearm was identified as functional, unregistered, and transported through interstate commerce, as the District has no firearms or ammunition distributors.
A criminal records check showed that Miles had a prior felony conviction, legally barring him from possessing a firearm. He was taken to the Sixth District for processing.
The ATF and MPD are jointly investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.
"An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."