Demontra Harris, a 31-year-old resident of the District of Columbia with prior felony convictions, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence was handed down on October 24, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta. Harris will also serve three years of supervised release.
Harris pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, to possessing a .40 caliber pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition as a felon. The case stemmed from an incident on March 1, 2024, when police officers saw a black Toyota RAV-4 run a red light at around 10 p.m. A detective witnessed the vehicle lose control and crash on the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue SE. Harris, who was alone in the car, abandoned it after the crash.
Officers responding to the scene found a Glock 22 pistol with an extended magazine left on the driver’s seat along with an open bottle of tequila. They also discovered one shoe near the driver’s side and identification documents—driver’s license, ID card, and rental agreement—all bearing Harris’s name.
Shortly after the crash, police spotted a man nearby wearing only one shoe that matched the one found in the vehicle. Officers arrested Harris and confirmed he had previous felony convictions for weapons offenses. As such, he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar prosecuted the case with support from Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Schneider and Rachel Craft.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentencing: "Demontra Harris , 31, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced October 24, 2025, to 24 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a .40 caliber pistol and 17 rounds of ammunition that police discovered after he had abandoned a vehicle following a car crash."
The press release notes that although this matter occurred earlier in the year, publication was delayed due to a government shutdown.
