Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON – Darren Patterson, 31, a previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 36 months in federal prison in connection with an April 2024 incident in which he attempted to flee from police in his car, struck several vehicles, drove his vehicle into a fence, and crashed into a tree. At his arrest, Patterson was found to be in possession of more than 70 grams of crack cocaine and in illegal possession of a stolen Glock 47 that had been outfitted to fire as a machine gun.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Patterson pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, U.S. District Court Loren L. AliKhan ordered Patterson to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on April 13, 2024, members of the MPD’s Fifth District Crime Suppression Team (CST) were patrolling in the 1000 block 16th Street, NE. The officers approached a sedan parked on the block and observed a black firearm in plain view in between the feet of Patterson, who was seated behind the wheel. Officers attempted to stop Patterson for further investigation, but Patterson attempted to flee. He reversed the car, causing it to strike another vehicle that was parked behind it. Officers again attempted to stop Patterson, at which point he drove forward, struck a second parked vehicle, and then drove onto the public sidewalk. Patterson then crashed the car into a private fence before driving the car into a tree, which finally stopped him.
During a search of the car, MPD officers recovered a stolen Glock 47 that had one round in the chamber, and 19 rounds in the magazine. The stolen firearm was outfitted with a “giggle switch” that allowed it to be operated as a fully automatic machine gun.
In a search of Patterson, officers recovered crack cocaine – 13 grams of a white rock-like substance in his pocket, 58.5 grams of a white rock-like substance on the ground where Patterson was arrested – and $2,030 from his person.
Patterson previously had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm (prior conviction); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emory Cole, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, and Jared English.
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