WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal authorities have indicted three individuals accused of operating a firearm trafficking ring that exploited legal gun purchases in Virginia to supply weapons to individuals prohibited from owning them. The charges were unsealed Wednesday as part of the ongoing “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative aimed at combating gun violence in the nation’s capital.
Defendants Indicted in Multi-State Operation
The indicted individuals include Moniqua Jefferson, 31, and Valentino Hall, 28, both of Richmond, Virginia, and Derrick Boyd Jr., 32, of Capitol Heights, Maryland. All three were arrested at their residences and made their initial court appearances in the District of Columbia before Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh, who ordered them held in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday.
A Two-Year Illegal Firearm Scheme
According to the unsealed federal indictment, Jefferson and Hall purchased more than 22 firearms between September 2022 and September 2024 from licensed dealers in the Richmond area. Prosecutors allege that the weapons were then transferred to individuals legally barred from gun ownership, including minors and convicted felons.
The investigation revealed a pattern of communication between Jefferson, Hall, and buyers looking to bypass federal firearm restrictions. In several cases, Jefferson and Hall allegedly arranged the purchases and deliveries directly, often accepting payment in exchange for the weapons.
Involvement of Derrick Boyd Jr.
Court documents indicate that Derrick Boyd Jr. played a key role in the trafficking operation. In one instance, he allegedly accompanied Jefferson to a licensed gun dealer where she purchased a Ruger handgun. Financial records later showed that Boyd transferred funds to Jefferson exceeding the retail cost of the weapon, suggesting a profit-driven transaction.
The indictment also cites a critical event on June 6, 2024, when Jefferson purchased a firearm that was later found in the possession of an underage individual in Washington, D.C. within just two weeks. Other firearms connected to the suspects were later recovered from illegal possessors in both Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
All three defendants face charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms, a serious federal offense. The case underscores growing concern over the movement of firearms from states with more accessible gun markets into areas with stricter regulations and higher incidences of gun-related crime.
Part of Broader Anti-Gun Violence Strategy
This prosecution falls under the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative, a federal law enforcement program targeting gun trafficking and illegal firearms possession in the D.C. area. The initiative represents a coordinated effort between local, state, and federal agencies to reduce gun violence and hold offenders accountable.
As the investigation continues, authorities have not ruled out additional charges or arrests. The defendants remain in federal custody as they await further legal proceedings.
Anyone with information related to this case or other firearm trafficking activity is encouraged to contact federal law enforcement agencies through official channels.
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