Felon Sentenced to 40 Months for Illegal Possession of 2 Firearms (DOJ)

WASHINGTON - Kiyel Kearney, 23, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 40 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded revolver in May 2025 when his status as a felon prohibited him from having any firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

Kearney pleaded guilty Jan. 16, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 40-month prison term, Chief Judge Boasberg ordered Kearney to serve two years of supervised release.  

 According to court documents, on May 10, 2025, about 11:45 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department, assigned to the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, received a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire in the 1200 block of Harvard Street, NW. Following the gunshots, MPD officers observed a gray Acura sedan occupied by four individuals speeding and disregarding a red light at the intersection of Sherman Ave NW, and Harvard Street NW. Officers saw the vehicle entering the opposing lanes of traffic in the 100 block of Michigan Ave NW. Officers lost sight of the vehicle before it appeared again in the 200 block of Michigan Ave NW. Officers observed the vehicle lose control and crash. The four occupants, including Kearney, exited the car and fled on foot.

MPD officers pursued Kearney as he was observed running with one free hand, with his other hand appearing to be holding his waist area, consistent with preventing a firearm from falling from his body. Following a foot pursuit through the active lanes of traffic on North Capitol Street NW, Kearney slipped, fell to the ground, and surrendered to the officers. An officer searched Kearney and felt a hard metal object and recovered a semiautomatic Glock 33 .357 caliber pistol, with 14 rounds of ammunition in a 15-round capacity magazine.

Police recovered a semiautomatic Glock 33 .357 caliber pistol, with 14 rounds of ammunition in a 15-round capacity magazine.

Firearm and magazine recovered from the defendant.

Additionally, Kearney can be seen in surveillance video interacting with other individuals and appears agitated. Kearney is seen removing a backpack from his body and then retrieving a long gun. Surveillance video shows an unknown individual discharge a firearm with an MPD SUV present. As the defendant is fleeing on foot, at about 1:06 a.m., he shoots the long gun numerous times in the direction of the alley. At least three other individuals are seen discharging firearms as a result of the defendant's shooting. A bystander was struck in the chin and head by a stray bullet and was taken to the hospital; it is unclear which firearm caused the injury.

MPD crime scene investigators recovered multiple 5.56 shell casing from the area where the defendant was seen firing the long gun.

At the time of this offense, Kearney had a pending case in D.C. Superior Court for a May 12, 2023, felony offense for illegally possessing a firearm in the 3000 block of 14th Street, NW. In that case, Kearney was apprehended by officers while in possession of a Glock 43x 9mm firearm, with one round of ammunition with eight rounds in the magazine.

This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again 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. 

It was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Washington Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Seidel and Anthony Scarpelli.  

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