Five Arrested, Federally Charged in Gun Running Scheme that Trafficked Firearms from North Carolina to D.C.

RALEIGH​, N.C. - ATF Agents arrested five individuals following a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returning indictments alleging their involvement in a firearms trafficking scheme: four arrested in Maryland, one in Raleigh, North Carolina. This enforcement action was conducted in collaboration with the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, a federal task force chaired by the Homeland Security Advisor, to curb violent crime, address narcotics and firearms offenses, enforce quality-of-life and transit rules, and support local and federal police agencies. The grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging the defendants with offenses including conspiracy to traffic firearms, firearms trafficking, and making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

"This operation exemplifies the commitment of our federal, state, and local partners working together under the Make DC Safe and Beautiful initiative," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "Gun-running networks do not respect state lines, and neither does our determination to stop them. This joint effort shows how coordinated enforcement can protect both Washington, D.C. communities and the communities where these schemes originate."

On October 20, 2026, the Make DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force executed five federal arrest warrants related to a firearms trafficking conspiracy involving individuals who trafficked dozens of firearms from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., and the National Capital Region. The Task Force determined that co-conspirators supplied upwards of approximately 40 firearms to individuals across multiple states, including Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Saint Georges, Grenada.

"When bad guys buy guns here and ship them up to our nation's beautiful capital to foment unrest and mayhem, they threaten the safety of families and communities who live there, along with all of the eager citizens, families and kids, who save up to make the trip and visit the patriotic history and grandeur." said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "Working with ATF and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate these schemes and prosecute those who violate federal law. If you are making sham purchases to illegally run guns in Eastern North Carolina, we will find you and prosecute you."

"If you traffic firearms to violent criminals, gang members, or prohibited persons, ATF will find you and hold you accountable," said Director Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "Working with our partners on the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, we are dismantling trafficking networks and stopping the violence they fuel in our nation's capital. State lines will not protect you."

"The statistics show that the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force is making a real difference in reducing crime," said Associate Director of Operations for the United States Marshals Service Aaron Sawyer. "With every arrest we make and every illegal firearm we seize, we are helping prevent future crimes and protect people from becoming victims. That is the impact of this operation that can sometimes get lost in the numbers. Fewer crimes mean fewer victims and safer communities for everyone."

The indictment charges the following individuals, including two defendants - Arnise Lecresha Young and Antonique Whitaker - who hold valid Special Police Officer licenses in the District of Columbia:

• Brian "B" Agee, 40, with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 933(a)(2) and (a)(3), six counts of firearms trafficking and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 933(a)(2) and 2, and six counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(6), 924(a)(2), and 2.
• Arnise Lecresha Young, 33, with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 933(a)(2) and (a)(3), six counts of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 933(a)(2) and 2, and six counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
• Frank "Fatboy" Rayvone Harris, 38, with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 933(a)(2) and (a)(3).
• Antonique Whitaker, 34, with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 933(a)(2) and (a)(3), two counts of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 933(a)(2) and 2, and two counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(6), 924(a)(2), and 2.
• Christian Shedetta Atkinson, 30, with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 933(a)(2) and (a)(3), and with one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2).

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic firearms and firearms trafficking offenses, and 10 years in federal prison for offenses involving false statements to federally licensed firearms dealers. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the applicable sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Pirro for the District of Columbia and U.S. Attorney Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. ​The ATF​ is investigating the case.

Press Conference on Federal Charges Stemming from a Joint Firearms-Trafficking Enforcement Operation Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. (Video)

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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