Man Convicted of Illegal Ghost Gun Possession and Fleeing Police

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Defendant, Armed with Illegal Ghost Gun, Fled Police in Busy H-Street Corridor to Federal Regulatory Commission Building.

By Staff Writer | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC News & Media)
Published May 2nd, 2024

WASHINGTON — Frederick Powell, a 29-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been convicted of several serious offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The jury delivered their verdict on April 30, 2024, finding Powell guilty of carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, felony fleeing from law enforcement, and reckless driving.

The incident that led to Powell's charges occurred on the evening of September 15, 2023. According to U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, Powell was driving an unregistered vehicle along the busy H-Street corridor at about 9:40 p.m. When officers attempted to stop him for a traffic check, Powell sped away, endangering countless pedestrians and other drivers by running red lights and stop signs in the heavily trafficked area.

Powell’s flight ended when he parked his vehicle near the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission building and entered the facility. Surveillance footage from inside the building showed Powell removing a .45 caliber pistol from his waistband and placing it on the floor. The gun was loaded with one round in the chamber and nine in the magazine, and it had an obliterated serial number, making it difficult to trace.

This reckless episode came after Powell's previous convictions, which included two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy in 2017, and a conviction in 2021 for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia presided over the trial and has scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2024. Powell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for his actions.

For Immediate Release: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia

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