Monte Tyree Johnson, a 29-year-old from the District of Columbia, has been charged with a federal gun violation. This move is part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative under the direction of U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. The initiative is focusing efforts on charging gun-related offenses in District Court to bring down violent crime rates in Washington, D.C.
The recent indictment orders Johnson to face one count of unlawful firearm possession by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Johnson's detention in line with a criminal complaint from March 20, 2025, pertaining to unlawful firearm possession. Johnson's legal history includes a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter on December 10, 2021, for which he received a 96-month prison sentence, restricting his ability to legally possess firearms.
Authorities, represented by U.S. Marshals, detained Johnson on March 19, 2025, citing violations of his supervised release terms. His arrest occurred at a residence in Northeast Washington, D.C., where officials stated they found a firearm, high-capacity magazine, ammunition, and suspected narcotics. The prior day, U.S. Marshals reportedly saw Johnson with a black crossbody bag leaving a residence on Cassell Place NE. When they returned to execute an arrest warrant, they found him in a third-floor bedroom.
During the arrest, authorities noted the presence of the black crossbody bag by the bed Johnson used. The bag openly contained a high-capacity ammunition feeding device. A legal search confirmed the presence of a loaded handgun, an extended magazine, and controlled substances.
This legal development is tied to "Make D.C. Safe Again," a public safety campaign by U.S. Attorney Martin, aiming to tackle gun violence by intensifying federal firearms-related charges and pursuing stronger penalties for offenders to ensure community safety.
The legal proceedings against Johnson are accusations at this stage. In the U.S. legal system, all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
