District Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty in Unlawful Possession of Six Firearms

WASHINGTON - Dewayne Anthony Shorter Jr., 36, a resident of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to two felony charges related to armed drug distribution. The plea, which comes as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

Shorter pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to distribution of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids and to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Judge Sooknanan set the sentencing hearing for August 28, 2025.

As part of his plea, Shorter admitted that he possessed with the intent to distribute 2.75 pounds of marijuana, two jars of THC wax, and 29.8 grams of suspected dimethylpentylone, a synthetic designer drug also referred to as "boot." The drugs were recovered by MPD officers on Jan. 28, 2025, inside Shorter's 2022 Infiniti SUV.

Shorter further admitted to possessing a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol loaded with 19 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an Aero Precision 5.56mm AR-Pistol loaded with 36 rounds, a Del Ton 5.56mm AR-Pistol loaded with 15 rounds, and a "double drum" 100-round capacity magazine containing 94 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. All were recovered from inside the same SUV.

Shorter also admitted to possessing with intent to distribute 30 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, 28 grams of suspected fentanyl, and 18 grams of suspected "boot" in his apartment which was searched by MPD officers after his arrest. In addition, he admitted to possessing a Ruger 5.7x28mm handgun loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition, an FNH 5.7x28mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with 20 rounds, two disassembled AR-15 style rifles chambered for 5.56mm ammunition, three rifle magazines loaded with a total of 57 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and a handgun magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Shorter is a previously convicted felon and has two prior convictions for assaulting police officers.

The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson.

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