Sherwood Russell, a 35-year-old resident of the District of Columbia with a prior felony conviction, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm that had been modified with a machine gun conversion device. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Russell pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Russell to serve three years of supervised release.
The announcement was made in conjunction with Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, on May 4, 2025, MPD officers responded to a domestic disturbance call on the 2000 block of 11th Street NW at approximately 6:46 p.m. Officers observed Russell grabbing a woman by her arms before he entered his vehicle—a white Tesla with New Jersey license plates.
An officer instructed Russell to exit the vehicle; however, Russell instead turned the wheel and accelerated, striking an officer in the leg. After crashing into a fence, Russell attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers.
A search of Russell’s vehicle revealed an open container of alcohol in the front seat. During a probable cause search for additional open containers, officers found a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol equipped with a "giggle switch," which converts semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
Russell has previous convictions from 2011 for burglary while armed with a gun and assault with a dangerous weapon. He received sentences of ten years for burglary and thirty months for assault.
The case was investigated by both ATF and MPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss.
