Ahmad Robertson, 32, Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a ‘Ghost Gun’ While Trafficking Cocaine and Fentanyl

Friday, March 29, 2024

WASHINGTON – Ahmad Robertson, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for possession of an illegal “ghost gun” in furtherance of drug trafficking. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, of Homeland Security Investigations -Washington Field Office (HSI-DC), Acting Inspector in Charge Ajay Lall of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS), and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Robertson pleaded guilty on November 7, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the 66 month prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Robertson to serve 48 months of supervised release. Robertson has been in custody since June 1, 2023.

            According to court documents, on June 1, 2023, officers from the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), HSI, USPIS, MPD, and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant on Robertson’s home and vehicle on the 100 block of Xenia Street, SE.  Officers ordered the occupants to come out of the residence. After 15 minutes, Robertson exited the premises and police took him into custody. Officers searched Robertson and discovered two baggies of white powder in his pants pockets, which was later determined to be cocaine. Officers then searched Robertson’s vehicle and discovered a digital scale and a “ghost gun,” a privately manufactured AR-style pistol with no serial number, loaded with 28 rounds of 5.56 caliber ammunition.

            When officers searched Robertson’s home, they recovered two additional firearms, extended magazines, assorted rounds of ammunition of various calibers, drug paraphernalia including additional digital scales, a blender with fentanyl residue, and fentanyl.

            This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

            This case was investigated by HSI, USPIS, and MPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section and Trial Attorney Gaelin Bernstein of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Leiter.