Ramon Leonard, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on Mar. 27 to strangling his former romantic partner in two separate incidents that occurred in April and October of 2025, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and the commitment by authorities to address repeat offenses. Leonard had previously been convicted for a similar offense involving the same victim in October 2024.
Pirro said, “This guilty plea reflects our office’s staunch commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable and protecting victims of domestic violence. 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 at Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Leonard assaulted his former partner on April 8, 2025 during a verbal altercation at her residence by choking her with both hands until she struggled to breathe and feared losing consciousness. The victim escaped and called police from her leasing manager’s office.
A second incident took place on October 31, 2025 after trick-or-treating with their children when Leonard again choked the victim outside his residence; this assault was captured on surveillance video. Leonard was arrested shortly afterward 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 the plea agreement. The investigation involved officers from the Metropolitan Police Department as well as Special Agent Greg Nagurka from USAO-DC Criminal Investigations Unit; assistance was also provided by U.S. Marshals Service during arrest procedures.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Hinerfeld is prosecuting the case against Leonard.
