A federal grand jury has indicted Delantae Phillips, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, on a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition while prohibited from doing so due to a domestic violence restraining order. The indictment alleges that on May 24, 2025, Phillips had a Glock model 21 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 12 rounds. At the time, he was under a Final Protective Order issued by the District Court of Baltimore County.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office — in partnership with our federal, local, and state partners — works hard to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are not authorized to carry them. This helps prevent violence and save lives,” Hayes said. “We support prioritizing our residents’ safety and well-being through our commitment to community trust, strategic enforcement, and violence prevention, especially for those experiencing intimate-partner violence.”
Doerrer added: “We are committed to working with our state and local partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Cases like these highlight the excellent work of our local police, local prosecutors, federal agents, and federal prosecutors.”
This indictment comes after Baltimore City was designated under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA), joining other communities nationwide in efforts to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and focus on prosecuting offenders barred from owning firearms under federal law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is collaborating with federal agencies as well as community organizations in Baltimore City to address violent crime and improve public safety by leveraging federal resources against intimate-partner firearm violence.
It is noted that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement at all levels with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN in May 2021 focusing on building trust in communities, supporting organizations aimed at preventing violence before it occurs, targeting enforcement priorities strategically, and measuring outcomes.
U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked both ATF and BPD for their joint investigation efforts as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett for prosecuting this case.
Further details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-md or www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
