D.C. Man Convicted of Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

           WASHINGTON – Asa Lea, 28, of Washington, D.C. was found guilty by a jury today on charges related to his unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after he had previously been convicted of a felony. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Ronald A. Pavlik, Jr., Chief of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).

           Lea was convicted following a jury trial in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Lea faces a prison sentence of up to ten years of imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2020, before the Honorable Christopher R. Cooper.

           According to the government’s evidence, in March 2019, MTPD officers attempted to write Lea a citation for public consumption of marijuana.  After Lea provided a false identification to the officers and attempted to flee, officers located a .25 caliber semi-automatic firearm in his front jacket pocket.  The firearm, which was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, had an obliterated serial number.

           This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program (“PSN”) and Project Guardian, which are nationwide crime-reduction strategies aimed at reducing violent crime and gun crime. PSN and Project Guardian involve a comprehensive approach to public safety that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the District of Columbia, U.S. Attorney Liu coordinates PSN and Project Guardian efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

           In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu expressed her appreciation to the Metro Transit Police Department for their work on the case. She also acknowledged the work of Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle and Legal Assistant Peter Gaboton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, AUSA Vincent Caputy, who investigated and indicted the case, and AUSAs Andrea Duvall and Nicole Battle, who prosecuted and tried the case.