District Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison
For Gun and Drug Trafficking Scheme
– Defendant Sold Drugs and Guns to Police in Undercover Operation -

     WASHINGTON - Robert Gregory, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to an 87-month prison term on charges stemming from his role in the sales of cocaine and guns to undercover police officers, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Gregory pled guilty in March 2012 to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, one count of carrying a shotgun without a license, and three counts of unlawful distribution of a firearm. He was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Honorable Heidi M. Pasichow.

     Gregory was arrested in February 2012, following a long-term undercover operation by the Metropolitan Police Department, in which officers posed as criminals who bought guns, drugs, and stolen goods out of a house that was set up to look like a recording studio. The defendants, just like Gregory, thought they were selling to drug dealers, not police officers.

     As part of his plea agreement, Gregory admitted selling cocaine to undercover officers on two separate occasions in August of 2010, each time selling close to $1,000 worth of cocaine. He also admitted selling a 9-millimeter pistol, two Tec-9 pistols, and a shotgun to officers in three separate transactions in January and May of 2011.

     Judge Pasichow previously sentenced a co-defendant, Laquinn Walker, 26, of Takoma Park, Md., to 24 months in prison for his role in two sales of pistols with Gregory. As part of the plea agreement, Gregory admitted that he had facilitated Walker’s introduction to the undercover buyers, had set up the transactions, and had assisted Walker in making the sales. Neither Gregory nor Walker had any prior criminal convictions.

     In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the excellent work of the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bednar, who investigated and prosecuted the cases.

12-220