Convicted Felon Sentenced for Dealing Crack Cocaine While Armed Inside a Northwest Dollar Store

WASHINGTON - Tavon Lyles, 34, a convicted felon from Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 90 months in prison, to run consecutive to any other sentence, in connection with dealing crack cocaine inside a variety store to undercover police officers while he was armed with a Glock 22 semi-automatic handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Lyles pleaded guilty on October 11, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and another count of unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Lyles to serve three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on December 14, 2020, about 6:40 p.m., members of MPD Narcotics and Special Investigations Division (NSID) were conducting a buy-bust operation in the 1400 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Undercover officers (UC) approached Lyles inside a Dollar Plus store and asked Lyles if he had change for a $100 dollar bill. Lyles pulled out money to make change and simultaneously pulled out a plastic bag containing several smaller zips containing a white rock-like substance.

The undercover officers left the store, discussed what they saw, went back, and approached Lyles again. Lyles asked how much cash they had, and the UCs replied that they had $40. Lyles reached into his pants and pulled out two blue zips containing a white rock-like substance and handed them to one of the UCs. The UC handed Lyles two $20 bills of prerecorded currency. The UCs left the store and signaled that the buy was good.

The arrest team moved in. Lyles struggled briefly with officers as they placed him under arrest. As they attempted to handcuff him, an officer felt a hard object in Lyle's front waistband which felt like a firearm. The officer asked Lyles if the firearm was loaded, and Lyles confirmed it was. The officers handcuffed Lyles and removed a Glock 22 semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine from his waistband.

From Lyle's pockets, officers recovered cocaine base (crack) weighing a total of 32.73 grams. In addition, officers recovered $1,071 in cash which included the two $20 bills of MPD pre-recorded currency. Lyles admitted that he knew that he possessed the firearm and ammunition, that the firearm was loaded, and that he knew he had prior felony convictions for which the potential penalty was more than one year of incarceration.

This case was investigated by the MPD's Narcotics and Special Investigations Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole.

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