Greenbelt Felon Convicted of Illegal Possession of a Gun

GREENBELT, MD—A federal jury convicted Derrick Wenzell Simmons, age 36, of Greenbelt, Maryland, today being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. The jury deliberated a little more than an hour before returning its verdict.

According to the evidence presented at trial, based on information developed as part of an ongoing investigation, during the evening of December 4, 2008, members of the FBI and Laurel City Police Department executed a search warrant at Simmons' residence in Greenbelt, MD. Law enforcement recovered a loaded, Sig Sauer .40 caliber semi automatic firearm hidden in a blue plastic container in the master bedroom closet. The FBI was able to obtain some DNA from the firearm, which along with other evidence, connected Simmons to the gun. Simmons had previously been convicted on a gun charge and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Simmons faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for October 6, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Laurel City Police Department for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Gina Simms and William Moomau, who are prosecuting the case.