ATF agents have arrested five people on a 13-count federal indictment alleging a firearms-trafficking scheme that moved dozens of guns from North Carolina to Washington, DC, and the National Capital Region, the US Department of Justice said. Four of the accused were arrested in Maryland and one in Raleigh, North Carolina, when the Make DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force executed five federal arrest warrants on October 20, 2026.

Source: US Department of Justice, Eastern District of North Carolina

Investigators say the co-conspirators supplied upwards of approximately 40 firearms to individuals across multiple states, including Washington, DC, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, and Saint Georges, Grenada, according to the Justice Department. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro described the alleged operation at an October 21 press conference in Washington as a "conveyer belt of weapons feeding violence up the east coast," adding, "Today, that conveyer belt has stopped," USNN reported.

Source: USNN — 5 Charged With Trafficking Guns From North Carolina to Eastern Cities

5people arrested on October 20
13counts in the federal indictment
~40firearms allegedly supplied across several states
15 yearsmaximum penalty for the trafficking offences if convicted

Who is charged, and with what

The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina, charges Brian "B" Agee, 40, with conspiracy to traffic firearms, six counts of firearms trafficking and six counts of aiding the making of a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer; Arnise Lecresha Young, 33, with conspiracy, six aiding-and-abetting trafficking counts and six false-statement counts; Frank "Fatboy" Rayvone Harris, 38, with conspiracy; Antonique Whitaker, 34, with conspiracy and two counts each of aiding trafficking and false statements; and Christian Shedetta Atkinson, 30, with conspiracy and one false-statement count, the Justice Department said. Young and Whitaker hold valid Special Police Officer licences in the District of Columbia, according to prosecutors.

Source: US Department of Justice, District of Columbia

"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," said US Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina. "If you are making sham purchases to illegally run guns in Eastern North Carolina, we will find you and prosecute you." If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of 15 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and trafficking offences and 10 years for the false-statement offences, with any sentence set by a federal judge under the sentencing guidelines, the department said.

Source: US Department of Justice, Eastern District of North Carolina

What is solid

  • Five people were arrested on October 20, 2026 — four in Maryland and one in Raleigh — on a 13-count indictment in Case No. 5:26-CR-218, and the ATF is investigating.
  • Prosecutors say about 40 firearms were supplied to people in DC, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Saint Georges, Grenada.

What is only claimed

  • Whether each defendant knowingly took part in trafficking or false dealer statements must still be proved in court.
  • An indictment is merely an accusation; all five defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.