Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Defendant was Arrested for Illegal Gun Possession While on Parole for Prior Illegal Gun Possession Conviction

            WASHINGTON – Clarence Minor, 30, a previously convicted felon from Washington D.C. , was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for illegally possessing after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered that Minor serve three years on supervised release when he is released from prison.

            The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives- Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Minor pleaded guilty on May 8, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 46-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Minor to serve three years of supervised release.

            According to court documents, on June 17, 2023, a citizen called 911 to report having seen a young man pull a handgun from his backpack and place it his waistband on his right side. The caller provided details about the physical description, clothing, location, and direction of travel to the 911 operator. Within 10 minutes, MPD officers observed a man, later identified as Minor, wearing the same clothes walking in the area described by the 911 caller.

            Officers conducted a lawful stop of Minor, patted the right side of his waistband, and recovered a Glock19, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and ten rounds in a 31-round capacity magazine. At the time of the stop, Minor was carrying a small child on his right hip, directly over the top of the loaded handgun.

            A review of Minor’s criminal history revealed that he was on supervised release in D.C. Superior Court for a prior gun conviction when he was arrested in this case. Minor had only been back on the streets for four months before his arrest.

            This case was investigated by the MPD and ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.

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