Sherwood Russell, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm that had been modified with a machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “giggle switch.” The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Russell pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025, to the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered that Russell serve three years of supervised release after completing his term.
Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in making the announcement.
Court documents show that on May 4, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 2000 block of 11th Street NW. Officers saw Russell grabbing a woman by her arms before he entered his vehicle—a white Tesla with New Jersey license plates.
An officer instructed Russell to get out of the car. Instead, Russell turned the wheel and accelerated toward an officer, striking him in the leg. After crashing into a fence while trying to flee, Russell got out and attempted to run away but was tackled and arrested by officers.
A search of Russell’s vehicle revealed an open container of alcohol on the front seat. During a probable cause search for more open containers, police found a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol equipped with a device converting it into a fully automatic weapon.
Russell has previous convictions from 2011 for armed burglary and assault with a dangerous weapon; he received sentences of ten years for burglary and thirty months for assault at that time.
The case was investigated by both ATF and MPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss.
