Charles E. General, a 29-year-old resident of the District of Columbia and previously convicted felon, was sentenced on Mar. 19 to 24 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a stolen, loaded handgun, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws in the District. General pleaded guilty on Nov. 5, 2025, before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to his prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department investigators observed General and others smoking marijuana in a parking lot on Cedar Street SE on Oct. 13, 2023. Officers approached the group after smelling marijuana and informed them that street smoking was not permitted. During a lawful frisk, officers found a loaded Glock 30S .45 caliber pistol in General’s coat pocket.
The firearm had been reported stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Springfield, Virginia that had been burglarized earlier. General’s prior conviction for carrying a pistol without a license made his possession of the weapon in this incident a federal offense.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole prosecuted the case as part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is described as “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.”
