WASHINGTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.

            WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging two Virginia residents and one Maryland resident with conspiracy to traffic firearms purchased from licensed firearm retailers in Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

            Moniqua Jefferson, 31 and Valentino Hall, 28, both of Richmond, and Derrick Boyd Jr., 32,  of Capitol Heights, Maryland, were arrested at their homes this morning. They made their initial appearances today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh who ordered them to be held pending a detention hearing on July 17. This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative.

            According to the indictment, from as early as September 2022, and continuing until September 2024, Jefferson and Hall determined what firearms were available from federally licensed firearm retailers in the Richmond area, and then allegedly sought customers who were prohibited from possessing the guns by law. Jefferson and Hall then purchased the firearms, and resold or transfered them to individuals, including Boyd, for a fee. 

            The indictment details how on May 31, 2024, and June 1, 2024, Hall and Jefferson allegedly communicated with a co-conspirator to purchase a firearm in Richmond for the co-conspirator. Thirty days later, the co-conspirator, who was prohibited by law from possessing firearms, allegedly was found in possession of the firearm purchased by Jefferson and Hall.

            On June 6, 2024, Jefferson allegedly bought another firearm at a licensed retailer in Richmond. Just 17 days later, that firearm was recovered from an individual who could not lawfully possess a firearm in the District because that individual was under 21-years-old.

            Subsequently, between August 14, 2024, and August 15, 2024, Boyd communicated with Hall and Jefferson to purchase a Ruger firearm. The next day, Boyd and Jefferson entered a licensed retailer in Richmond together and Jefferson purchased the gun. Boyd and Jefferson left the retailer together. Hall and Jefferson communicated about charging individuals $100 to purchase firearms, and on Aug. 16, 2024, Boyd sent a payment to Jefferson for an amount of $103.01 more than the price of the firearm purchased by Jefferson.

            Finally, on Sept. 11, 2024, Jefferson, Hall, and another co-conspirator who was prohibited by law from possessing firearms traveled again to Richmond. The next day, Jefferson, Hall and the co-conspirator returned to the retailer, where Jefferson bought two identical firearms. Hall sent a payment to Jefferson for approximately the price of the firearms.

            Ultimately, Hall and Jefferson allegedly purchased over 22 firearms between August 2022 and May 2025. Five of those firearms were recovered by law enforcement in Maryland and the District of Columbia from individuals who were not permitted by law to carry or possess those firearms.

            Make D.C. Safe Again, under which this case is being prosecuted, is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. The initiative aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

            The charges in the indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is 15 years. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            The ATF’s Washington Field Division is leading this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Federal Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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