Kelly O. Hayes United States Attorney for the District of Maryland | Department of Justice
Kelly O. Hayes United States Attorney for the District of Maryland | Department of Justice
A federal jury has found Lester Massey, Jr., 42, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, guilty of illegally possessing ammunition. The verdict was reached after a two-day trial in Greenbelt.
The conviction was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief George Nader of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on August 11, 2023, ATF agents and PGPD officers executed a court-ordered search at Massey’s residence. Authorities recovered 243 live rounds of ammunition throughout his apartment. They also found gun parts including an AR style receiver, a slide, spring, barrel, two magazines and gun tools.
Investigators determined that the ammunition had traveled across state lines before being found in Massey’s possession in August 2023. At the time he possessed the ammunition, Massey had previously been convicted of a state crime punishable by more than two years imprisonment and knew he was prohibited from having firearms or ammunition.
Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1 at 2 p.m.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. In May 2021, the Department strengthened PSN with strategies focused on building community trust and legitimacy; supporting organizations that work to prevent violence; setting targeted enforcement priorities; and measuring outcomes.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended both ATF and PGPD for their investigative efforts. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Appleby-Rumon as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter for prosecuting the case.
More information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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