The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 24 defendants with federal firearms offenses in April, as part of the ongoing Make D.C. Safe Again initiative. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. reported that this number more than doubles the average monthly cases since January 2021. This effort has resulted in 42 firearm prosecutions since the initiative began.
The recent federal charges are the highest recorded since before January 2021, removing several dangerous offenders from the streets. Notable cases include a Baltimore man indicted following a chase, an arrest in Chinatown leading to an illegal firearm charge, and a district man indicted for illegal possession after an arrest in Northeast D.C.
The Make D.C. Safe Again initiative supports President Trump's Executive Order aimed at reducing gun violence. It focuses on prioritizing federal firearms violations, tougher penalties, and detention for violators.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, alongside the Metropolitan Police Department, are involved in these investigations. The indictments currently stand as allegations, with all defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.