Repeat Felon on Supervised Release Sentenced to 21 Months for Illegal Possession of Handgun

WASHINGTON – Jefry Stevent Padilla Sanchez, 21, a previously convicted felon whose last known address was in Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 21 months in federal prison in connection with his illegal possession of a loaded handgun in a crowded public transit station, while unlawfully possessing fentanyl and while on active court supervision, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

Padilla pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2025, before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 21-month prison term, Judge Chutkan ordered Padilla to serve three years of supervised release. 

According to court documents, on September 12, 2025, about 6:38 p.m., officers with the Metro Transit Police Department observed Padilla commit fare evasion at the Fort Totten Metro Station by “piggybacking” behind a paying customer. Officers then detained Padilla to issue a citation when a subsequent records check revealed Padilla had an active extraditable warrant issued by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, for violation of probation stemming from a felony burglary conviction.  

Officers placed Padilla under arrest and conducted a search incident to arrest. Police discovered a 9mm Heckler & Koch P2000SK semiautomatic handgun concealed in Padilla’s waistband. The firearm was loaded with nine rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. In addition to the firearm, officers recovered approximately 37 “M30” pills, which field testing confirmed contained fentanyl. 

 At the time of this offense, Padilla had multiple prior felony convictions out of Maryland. The offenses included second-degree burglary and unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle. He was serving concurrent terms of supervised probation for those offenses. 

This case was investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice. 

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