Evergreen Reporter

Raymond Davon Benson, 32, of Washington, D.C., faces a federal firearm charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. announced the indictment along with Anthony Spotswood from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith.

The initiative aims to reduce violent crime in Washington, D.C. by focusing on gun violence, prioritizing federal firearms violations, and pushing for tougher penalties and detention for offenders.

Benson was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Court records describe the events of March 29, 2025, when MPD officers spotted Benson on U Street NW with a red solo cup. The cup is often used for alcohol in the area. When officers approached, Benson dumped the liquid and fled. During his escape, he allegedly discarded a firearm in an alley before being captured. Police recovered a Cobray M-11 firearm and about 30 rounds of ammunition where the firearm was tossed.

Benson's past felony conviction in Superior Court for the District of Columbia bars him from possessing firearms.

The investigation is being carried out by the ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Martin Jr. said, "An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."