Ramon Leonard, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on Mar. 27 to strangling his former romantic partner in two separate incidents in April and October 2025, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to address repeat offenses and protect victims of domestic violence within the community.
Leonard had previously been convicted for a similar offense involving the same victim in October 2024. He entered his plea to two counts of strangulation in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is set for May 28 before Judge Robert Salerno.
“This guilty plea reflects our office’s staunch commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable and protecting victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This defendant had already been convicted of strangling the victim once before, and yet he chose to commit this heinous act not once, but twice more. That pattern of predatory behavior will not be tolerated in this community. We will continue to pursue justice on behalf of every victim with the full force of this office.”
According to government evidence presented in court, Leonard assaulted the victim at her residence on April 8, 2025 following a verbal altercation that became physical; he choked her with both hands around her neck until she struggled for breath and nearly lost consciousness. The victim escaped and called police from her leasing manager’s office.
A second incident occurred on October 31, after trick-or-treating with their children outside Leonard’s residence; surveillance footage captured him choking her again with both hands around her neck as she fought for air.
Leonard was arrested on November 11 and has remained in custody since then. Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Marshal Robert Anthony Dixon joined Pirro in announcing developments in the case.
The investigation was led by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department along with Special Agent Greg Nagurka from USAO-DC Criminal Investigations Unit; assistance during arrest was provided by U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Hinerfeld is prosecuting.
