Four Men Charged with Possessing Machineguns in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 14, 2023

Indictment Alleges the Assembly and Use of Fully Automatic “Ghost Guns”

            WASHINGTON – Four men were arraigned this morning on federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute marijuana and oxycodone, unlawful transfer and possession of a machinegun, and using, carrying, and possessing machineguns during, in relation to, or in furtherance of drug trafficking.  The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Weddel of the ATF Washington Field Division, and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”).

            The indictment alleges that Eugene Tracy Hill, also known as “Geno” or “Cheese,” Diante Arik Wiley, also known as “Sleez” or “Taybino,” Broadus Jamal Daniels, also known as “Wardy,” and Andre Alonte Willis, also known as “Boogie,” were engaged in a years-long conspiracy to distribute marijuana and oxycodone. It is further alleged that Hill and Willis distributed, possessed with the intent to distribute, or conspired to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. 

            The indictment further alleges that, in furtherance of their drug trafficking conspiracy, and in order to protect the co-conspirators and their drugs, money, and drug-dealing territory, Wiley assembled AR-Pistol machineguns from parts that he bought through online retailers and sold those machineguns to Hill, Daniels, Willis, and others. Since the AR-Pistols that Wiley built were assembled from parts, they had no serial numbers and there was no way for law enforcement to track their possession or sale. Such firearms are defined as “Privately Made Firearm” by ATF but are also referred to as “ghost guns” on the street.

            The indictment alleges that Hill, Wiley, Daniels, and Willis used the machineguns for defense of their territory, and also as currency to trade for drugs or other firearms.  All four men have been detained since their arrest, and law enforcement seized controlled substances and firearms from each of their residences after they were taken into custody.

            If convicted of all charges, each defendant faces a minimum of 30 years in prison.

            This indictment is part of a joint investigation which has resulted in the seizure of two vehicles, 13 handguns, five machineguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, as well as almost 40 pounds of marijuana, dozens of oxycodone pills, and more than $300,000 in cash.

            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Acting Special Agent in Charge Weddel, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case, including FBI, ATF, and MPD. Finally, they cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson and Paralegal Specialist Genevieve de Guzman.

            The charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.