Repeat Felon Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Distribution of Crack Cocaine

            WASHINGTON – Donnie Wise, 27, a repeat felon from Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for possessing two illegal firearms and distribution quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine at his Southeast apartment, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Washington Division; and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Wise pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss on March 21 to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon and to unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moss ordered Wise to serve three years of supervised release.

            According to court documents, on January 18, 2023, at about 6 a.m., members of the MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division executed a search warrant at Wise’s apartment on the 1900 block of 18^th Street, SE. Law enforcement found Wise sitting inside his bedroom. Once handcuffed, Wise told police he was the only one who resided in the apartment. The kitchen was filled with drug making equipment that included digital scales, baking soda, empty ziplock bags.

            Officers searched Wise’s bedroom and, next to his bed, recovered a Zastava Arms ZPAP92 7.62 x 39mm firearms with 30 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. Officers also located a Glock 17, 9 mm pistol in the same room with 26 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.

            Police additionally recovered a 50-round magazine containing 15 rounds, a Zigana gun box containing two magazines, 39 rounds of .40 caliber ammo, a baggie containing empty yellow pill capsules, 21 grams of crack cocaine, and 85 grams of powder cocaine on a shelf over a television. DNA linked Wise to the Glock 17.

            This case was conducted under the auspices of Project Safe Neighborhoods and was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division in concert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.

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