Baltimore Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm While Under Domestic Violence Restraining Order

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted Delantae Phillips, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person while under a domestic violence restraining order.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).

According to the indictment, on May 24, 2025, Phillips knowingly possessed a Glock model 21 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. At the time of the offense, Phillips was prohibited from possessing a firearm because the District Court of Baltimore County had issued a Final Protective Order against him.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office — in partnership with our federal, local, and state partners — works hard to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not authorized to carry them. This helps prevent violence and save lives,” Hayes said. “We support prioritizing our residents’ safety and well-being through our commitment to community trust, strategic enforcement, and violence prevention, especially for those experiencing intimate-partner violence.”

“We are committed to working with our state and local partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,” Doerrer said. “Cases like these highlight the excellent work of our local police, local prosecutors, federal agents, and federal prosecutors.”

This indictment follows the U.S. Justice Department’s designation of Baltimore City under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA).  The City of Baltimore — along with 77 other communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia — is focusing on reducing intimate partner firearm violence and prioritizing the prosecution of domestic violence offenders who are prohibited from owning firearms under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g).

In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is working closely with its federal, local, and state partners — along with Baltimore City community organizations — to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety. This partnership and coordination between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City of Baltimore ensures that federal resources are leveraged effectively to address intimidate-partner firearm violence.   

An indictment is merely an allegation.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their collaborative efforts in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett who are prosecuting this case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn. 

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