Felon Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Possession of Firearm

WASHINGTON - David Oday Smith, 39, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 24 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Smith pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, before Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 24-month prison term, Judge Moss ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department Crime Suppression Team officers observed Smith near a bus stop carrying a bag that appeared to be weighed down by an object. When officers approached, Smith fled on foot, throwing the bag over a fence behind a nearby business. A witness standing nearby observed Smith toss the bag. Officers recovered the bag and found a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol loaded with one round in the chamber and 14 rounds in the magazine. Police found Smith on the porch of a nearby residence and placed him under arrest.

Smith had been previously convicted in Prince George's County, Maryland, of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a handgun during a crime of violence, for which he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2009. He served about 15 years of that sentence before his release. That prior felony conviction made his firearm possession in this case a federal offense.

This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss as part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative.

Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

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