Rhondell Williams, a 38-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been charged with a federal firearms offense. This development comes as part of the initiative "Make D.C. Safe Again," aimed at combating violent crime in the city. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood, and MPD Chief Pamela Smith.
The "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, overseen by U.S. Attorney Martin, seeks to tackle gun violence in the District. It aims to prioritize federal firearms violations, enforce stricter penalties on offenders, and ensure pretrial detention for those charged with federal firearms offenses.
Williams faces three charges following an unsealed federal court indictment: unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The charges stem from an incident on April 4, 2025, when MPD officers observed Williams with an open tequila bottle on the 2800 block of Pomeroy Road SE. During the encounter, officers discovered that Williams allegedly had a concealed, loaded 9mm "ghost gun" without a serial number.
Investigations revealed that Williams did not have a permit to carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., and he has a prior conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm. The case is being jointly investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD.
The indictment is an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.