Federal Gun Charge Filed Against Convicted Felon

WASHINGTON — Antoine Gatling, 32, of the District of Columbia, was indicted yesterday in U.S. District Court, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony, as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. A man convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon in 2011was indicted yesterday on firearms and ammunition charges by a federal grand jury in Washington D.C.

According to court documents, Gatling, who was previously convicted of robbery, was arrested in Southeast Washington D.C. on March 1, 2024, after a 911 caller requested police assistance regarding a burglary in progress at an apartment located at 4500 3^rd St. SE. The caller specified that an individual wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black and white shoes was armed with a handgun and appeared to be attempting to break into a first-floor apartment within the apartment complex. Within minutes, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived at the location, identified Gatling, who matched the description of the 9-1-1 caller and was found just outside of the location of the attempted burglary, and detained him. After conducting a protective pat-down for safety, officers felt what they believed to be a firearm in a satchel strapped across Gatling’s back, and ultimately removed a Llama Especial .380. Officers later identified a round of 9mm ammunition as well as a 9mm magazine on Gatling’s person as well.  Further investigation revealed that Gatling had been convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon in Prince George’s County Circuit Court.  As a person who had been convicted of a criminal charge carrying a sentence of at least a year, Gatling was prohibited from possessing either the firearm or ammunition.

The charge carries a statutory maximum of 15 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being investigated by the MPD and the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.