Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Darren Patterson, a 31-year-old previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and is linked to an incident that occurred in April 2024. During this event, Patterson attempted to evade police by car, colliding with several vehicles before crashing into a tree. Upon his arrest, authorities discovered he was illegally in possession of a stolen Glock 47 firearm modified to function as a machine gun and over 70 grams of crack cocaine.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent Sean Ryan from the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Patterson entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024, for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan mandated three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Court documents reveal that on April 13, 2024, officers from the MPD’s Fifth District Crime Suppression Team were patrolling when they noticed Patterson seated behind the wheel of a sedan with a visible black firearm at his feet. When officers attempted to investigate further, Patterson tried to flee the scene but eventually crashed into multiple obstacles before being apprehended.
During their search of the vehicle, officers recovered the stolen Glock 47 with one round chambered and another nineteen rounds in its magazine. The firearm had been altered with a "giggle switch" enabling it to operate as an automatic weapon.
Further investigation led officers to find crack cocaine both on Patterson's person and at the arrest site totaling over seventy grams along with $2,030 cash.
Patterson's criminal history includes prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emory Cole, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, and Jared English.
