Lawrence A. Jordan, a 44-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge. This indictment is part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, which was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative aims to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. It involves prioritizing federal firearms violations, imposing tougher penalties on offenders, and seeking detention for those who violate federal firearms laws.
Jordan faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. He was initially encountered by MPD officers on November 16, 2023. Officers were responding to reports of disorderly conduct in the 700 block of 2nd Street, NE. Jordan was found in an apartment complex where he was not a resident, and later escorted out of an attached fitness center. Approximately 40 minutes later, officers received another call about a lewd act at the same fitness center. However, Jordan had already left by the time they arrived.
A week later, on November 23, 2023, police responded to a complaint of aggressive panhandling in the 1300 block of H Street, NE. Jordan was subsequently arrested for lewd, indecent, or obscene acts. During a search, a loaded semi-automatic pistol was allegedly found concealed on him. A previous felony conviction prohibits Jordan from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold. It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.