Robert Calvin Corbin III, a 45-year-old convicted felon from Washington D.C., faces a federal firearm charge under the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The announcement was made 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 aims to address gun violence in the District of Columbia by prioritizing federal firearms violations and pursuing harsher penalties for offenders. Corbin has been indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. On April 4, U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered that Corbin be held pretrial.
Court documents reveal that police were called to investigate a report of a group gambling near the 100 block of Q Street, NW, where Corbin allegedly possessed firearms. Corbin was reportedly seen smoking marijuana and drinking tequila. Officers stopped him for public consumption of marijuana and possession of an open container. When frisked, officers felt a hard object in Corbin's waistband. Corbin allegedly attempted to prevent the officer from identifying the object and a struggle ensued, leading to his arrest.
Police claim to have recovered a Glock 19 with a laser sight, modified with a "giggle switch" to convert it into a fully automatic machine gun, along with ammunition. Additionally, officers found another large-capacity magazine in Corbin's bag.
Corbin was arrested for possessing a machine gun, carrying a pistol without a license, possessing unregistered ammunition, and other charges. He now faces federal charges under violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1).
The case is under investigation by the ATF and MPD, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti.
"An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."