District man sentenced to federal prison for possessing stolen, loaded firearm while on supervision for multiple prior offenses (DOJ)

WASHINGTON - Rayvon Applewhite, 33, previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 26 months in federal prison in connection with his possession of a stolen, loaded 9 mm Taurus pistol while on supervised release for three prior offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Applewhite pleaded guilty June 4 before Judge Amir H. Ali to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 26-month prison term, Judge Ali ordered Applewhite to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison sentence of 41 months.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Officers from the 5th District Crime Suppression Team were on patrol July 14, 2025, when they spotted Applewhite in a residential neighborhood near Rhode Island Avenue NE. The area had experienced a recent surge of violent crime.

As officers observed him walking with another individual, Applewhite appeared to notice police presence and adjusted the front of his waistband, raising suspicion that he may have been concealing a weapon.

Officers approached Applewhite and attempted to speak with him. Applewhite tried to distance himself, and when officers moved to detain him, he resisted, prompting a protective pat down. Officers recovered a stolen 9 mm Taurus pistol from the front of his waistband. The firearm was fully loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 additional rounds in the magazine. It had been reported stolen out of East Point, Georgia.

Applewhite was prohibited from possessing any firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a loaded handgun, and second-degree cruelty to children. At the time of this offense, he remained under supervision in three separate matters and had an extensive criminal record spanning violent crimes, drug offenses, and repeated illegal firearm possession. This case marked his fourth firearm-related offense.

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Washington Field Office.

It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lee of the Federal Major Crimes Section under the President's Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again initiative, which targets violent crime by prioritizing federal prosecution of armed repeat offenders and removing illegal firearms from District neighborhoods.

Officers recovered the pistol tucked in Applewhite's pants, directly behind his belt buckle.

Evidence photo of Applewhite's loaded 9 mm Taurus pistol.

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