Dion Zellars, a 37-year-old from Capitol Heights, Maryland, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by the U.S. District Court for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. The sentencing comes just one week after his release to a halfway house. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentence.
Zellars, who also goes by “Thomas Good,” pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025. This conviction marks his fifth related to firearms offenses. In addition to the prison term, Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered three years of supervised release.
Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the outcome.
Court documents show that on March 20, 2025, four Metropolitan Police Department officers were patrolling Southern Avenue SE when they noticed several people on the sidewalk. Zellars attempted to hide behind an SUV as officers approached. When additional police arrived in an unmarked vehicle, Zellars fled while holding his waistband.
During the pursuit, Zellars displayed a black firearm before dropping it as he ran through residential yards and hopped fences. Officers apprehended him after he tripped in another yard and initially gave them a false name matching his own date of birth.
Police recovered cell phones and a Glock 29 10mm pistol with a laser attachment at the scene. The gun had one round chambered and a magazine containing 14 rounds out of a possible fifteen.
A search of Zellars’ phone revealed text messages and images from earlier that day showing him with the firearm. At about 1:19 p.m., he sent photos of the gun to someone named “Boo” and asked their opinion about it. Boo replied: “asking me about a gun when u just did 10 years ! u shouldn’t even be touching that.”
At the time of his arrest, Zellars had been released to a halfway house only eight days earlier and was under supervision for two other gun convictions.
The investigation was conducted by the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Barclay prosecuted the case.
"Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department."
"Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Washington Field Office, and Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department."
"This case was investigated by Washington Field Division of the ATF and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Barclay for the District of Columbia."
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