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Top 5 Gun Charge Defense Lawyers in Washington, DC (2026)

October 22, 202613 min read
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Firm Dossier · Washington, DC · October 22, 2026

Five Washington, DC criminal defense firms that take gun cases, checked on office, court reach, fees and real client reviews.

A DC gun arrest can mean a felony charge, a detention hearing within days and a case in either local or federal court. Who you hire, and what you ask them first, matters from the first call.

0 of 5
firms here publish a fee for a gun case
5 years
maximum prison term for carrying a pistol without a license
$0
cost of a court-appointed lawyer if you qualify

Lotze Mosley PLLC is listed first on this page. The order of the other four firms is not a ranking. Every fact below was checked against the source named beside it in October 2026.

01

The scorecard: 5 checks, 5 firms

✓ meets the check   ◐ partly or self-reported   ✗ does not, or not published

Lotze Mosley PLLCPeople who want a criminal-defense-only trial lawyer a block from Superior Court, with Maryland courts covered too
DC office
✓Penn Quarter
Gun charge page
✓DC and MD
Fees published
✗No
Google rating checked
✓4.7 / 53
Spanish service
✗Not stated
Price Benowitz Accident Injury Lawyers, LLPPeople who want a larger multi-practice firm with a Spanish-language gun page and several criminal lawyers on staff
DC office
✓Penn Quarter
Gun charge page
✓Yes
Fees published
✗No
Google rating checked
◐4.8 / 889, mostly injury
Spanish service
✓Spanish gun page
Ervin Kibria LawOut-of-state gun owners arrested in DC who want direct access to a partner, with a Northern Virginia office too
DC office
✓Downtown
Gun charge page
✓Yes
Fees published
✗No
Google rating checked
◐5.0 / 662, many traffic
Spanish service
✗Not stated
The Rollins and Chan Law FirmPeople who want a two-partner firm with flat fees reported by clients, Spanish intake and 24-hour access to case files
DC office
✓Penn Quarter
Gun charge page
✓CPWL page
Fees published
◐Flat fee per reviews
Google rating checked
✓4.9 / 184
Spanish service
✓Spanish intake
Scrofano Law PCPeople who want a larger criminal-only team with offices in DC, Rockville and Fairfax and a detailed CPWL guide in English and Spanish
DC office
✓Penn Quarter
Gun charge page
✓CPWL page
Fees published
✗No
Google rating checked
✓4.9 / 122
Spanish service
✓Spanish CPWL page
02

Before you hire: what the numbers mean for a DC gun case

1
0 of 5: firms here publish a fee for a gun case
Four of the five firms advertise a free first consultation, and none posts a price for gun defense on its website. Several Rollins and Chan reviewers describe a flat fee. Ask every firm whether the fee is flat or hourly, what a trial adds, and get the answer in a written fee agreement.
SOURCE · Firm websites and Google reviews, read October 2026
2
5 years: maximum prison term for carrying a pistol without a license
Under D.C. Code 22-4504(a), carrying a pistol outside your home or business without a DC license is a felony punishable by up to five years, a fine, or both. Possessing an unregistered firearm or ammunition is a separate charge that is often filed alongside it.
SOURCE · D.C. Code 22-4504, D.C. Council official code
3
$0: cost of a court-appointed lawyer if you qualify
If you cannot afford a lawyer, DC Superior Court appoints one, either from the Public Defender Service or from its Criminal Justice Act panel of private attorneys. Appointment usually happens before your first court appearance, based on a review of your finances.
SOURCE · Public Defender Service for DC; DC Courts CJA panel page
03

The 5 firm dossiers

01

Lotze Mosley PLLC

People who want a criminal-defense-only trial lawyer a block from Superior Court, with Maryland courts covered too
Why it made the list

Lotze Mosley PLLC runs its gun crime defense practice from 7th Street NW in Penn Quarter, about a block from the Moultrie Courthouse. Lead attorney Monica “Nikki” Lotze earned her law degree at Georgetown in 1993, and the firm practices criminal defense only. Its gun page covers carrying a pistol without a license, unregistered firearms and ammunition, and possession by someone with a prior felony, in DC Superior Court, the federal court in DC and Maryland state courts. The firm states it has tried hundreds of gun cases and describes diversion and felony-to-misdemeanor negotiation as options it pursues in Superior Court.

Proof file
  • Lead attorneyMonica “Nikki” Lotze; Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. 1993 · Martindale-Hubbell profile, firm website
  • LicenceMaryland licence since 1993, listed as active; D.C. Bar record not checked for this page · Avvo profile; confirm on the D.C. Bar member directory
  • Office400 7th St NW, Suite 206, Washington, DC 20004 · Google Business Profile, firm site footer
  • Phone202-393-0535 · Firm site header, Google
  • Gun cases handledCarrying without a license, unregistered firearm and ammunition, felon in possession; DC Superior Court, U.S. District Court for DC, Maryland courts · Firm gun crime page
  • Trial recordStates it has tried hundreds of gun possession and use cases · Firm’s own statement
  • FeesNot published; free consultation offered · Firm website
  • Google rating4.7 from 53 reviews · Google, checked October 2026
Your first-call script
QHow many carrying-without-a-license cases have you taken to trial in Superior Court, and how did the last few end?
QIf the government asks to hold me before trial, who argues the detention hearing, and how soon can you be there?
QWould you seek diversion or a reduction to a misdemeanor in my case, and what would that require from me?
From the reviews we read
+ Straight answers from the first call+ Knows DC and Maryland courts+ Strong plea results on felony charges~ 53 reviews, a smaller base

Reviewers say Nikki Lotze is straight with them from the first consultation and explains each step. Several mention her knowledge of both the DC and Maryland courts, and one describes a better plea deal than expected on two felony charges. The reviews we read did not describe a gun case specifically, and the review base is the smallest of the DC firms here.

Fit and watch-outA strong fit for someone who wants one trial lawyer who has worked both DC and Maryland courtrooms since 1993. The trade-off: fees are not published, and with 53 Google reviews there is less public feedback to weigh than for the larger firms here.
02

Price Benowitz Accident Injury Lawyers, LLP

People who want a larger multi-practice firm with a Spanish-language gun page and several criminal lawyers on staff
Why it made the list

Price Benowitz Accident Injury Lawyers, LLP is a multi-practice firm at 409 7th St NW whose criminal team lists David Benowitz, Sean O’Brien and Jack McCoy. Its DC gun crimes practice page explains DC registration rules and the penalties for carrying without a license, and a Spanish version of the page is linked from it. The firm also runs injury, estates, immigration and workers’ compensation practices across DC, Maryland and Virginia, so criminal work is one part of a bigger shop. It offers a free consultation and lists two intake numbers, one in the site header and one on the form.

Proof file
  • Criminal teamDavid Benowitz, Sean O’Brien, Jack McCoy · Firm website, Meet Our Team
  • Office409 7th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004 · Firm site footer, Google
  • Phone202-952-2964 (site header and Google); the contact form lists 202-600-9400 · Firm website, Google
  • Gun pageCovers registration, carrying without a license and armed crime penalties; Spanish version available · Firm gun crimes page
  • Practice mixCriminal, injury, estates, immigration and workers’ compensation in DC, Maryland and Virginia · Firm website
  • FeesNot published; free consultation offered · Firm website
  • Google rating4.8 from 889 reviews (409 7th St NW profile) · Google, checked October 2026
Your first-call script
QWhich attorney on the criminal team would handle my gun case from arraignment to trial?
QHow many gun cases has that attorney tried in Superior Court or federal court in the last two years?
QCan I get my fee agreement and updates in Spanish if I need them?
From the reviews we read
+ Regular case updates+ Paralegals named for good service~ Most reviews we read were injury cases

The Google profile we checked has 889 reviews, the largest base here, but most of the review text we read concerned car accident and injury cases, with praise for paralegals who kept clients updated. Those reviews speak to the firm’s communication habits more than to its gun defense results, so ask directly about criminal outcomes.

Fit and watch-outUseful if you want a firm with depth and Spanish-language material. The trade-off: the review base mostly reflects injury clients, and criminal defense is one practice among many, so confirm who will own your case.
03

Ervin Kibria Law

Out-of-state gun owners arrested in DC who want direct access to a partner, with a Northern Virginia office too
Why it made the list

Ervin Kibria Law works from 800 Connecticut Ave NW and a second office in Fairfax, Virginia, and its site says the firm is joining Monument Legal. Its DC gun lawyer team page focuses on registration, unregistered ammunition and the transport rules that catch visitors, and notes that DC does not honor carry permits from other states. Principal attorney Nabeel Kibria describes getting an out-of-state client released the morning after a gun arrest. The firm states that a partner handles each case and that clients speak with that attorney directly rather than with associates or paralegals.

Proof file
  • AttorneysNabeel Kibria, Christopher J. Mutimer, Jay P. Mykytiuk, Steven J. Ogilvie (principals); Justin Ervin (of counsel) · Firm website
  • Offices800 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 323, Washington, DC 20006; Fairfax, VA · Firm site footer, Google
  • Phone202-689-4439 on the website; Google lists 202-866-4866 · Firm website, Google
  • Firm statusJoining Monument Legal · Firm website
  • Gun focusUnregistered firearms and ammunition, transport rules, out-of-state carry permits · Firm gun section
  • StaffingStates a partner handles each case with no associates on the defense · Firm’s own statement
  • FeesNot published; free consultation offered · Firm website
  • Google rating5.0 from 662 reviews · Google, checked October 2026
Your first-call script
QMy permit is from another state. What defenses have worked for clients in that position?
QWith the move to Monument Legal, which attorney and which office will handle my case?
QWhich number should I use: the one on your website or the one on your Google listing?
From the reviews we read
+ Fast replies, day or night+ Explains the process clearly~ Many reviews from traffic cases

Reviewers praise Nabeel Kibria for fast replies, clear explanations and regular updates. A large share of the 662 reviews concern traffic tickets and DMV hearings rather than felony cases, so the high rating says more about service than about gun trial results. We found no negative review in the set we read.

Fit and watch-outA good fit for visitors and Virginia residents charged in DC who want partner-level contact. The trade-off: the firm is mid-merger, so names and numbers may change, and much of its review base comes from traffic matters.
04

The Rollins and Chan Law Firm

People who want a two-partner firm with flat fees reported by clients, Spanish intake and 24-hour access to case files
Why it made the list

The Rollins and Chan Law Firm is a DC and Maryland criminal defense firm at 419 7th St NW, steps from the Lotze Mosley and Price Benowitz offices. Partners Mark Rollins and Ada Chan lead the team, with an associate and an of-counsel former prosecutor. Its firearm page covers carrying a pistol without a license, and the firm practices in DC Superior Court, the federal court in DC and courts in Prince George’s, Montgomery and Charles counties. Mark Rollins states he has tried more than 75 jury trials and more than 1,000 bench trials. Clients get a portal with round-the-clock access to their case files, and intake forms and chat are offered in Spanish.

Proof file
  • AttorneysMark Rollins and Ada Chan (partners); Cynthia Rollins (associate); Camille Wagner (of counsel, former prosecutor) · Firm website
  • Office419 7th St NW, Suite 405, Washington, DC 20004; Mon to Fri 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM · Firm site, Google
  • Phone202-455-5610 · Firm site, Google
  • CourtsDC Superior Court, U.S. District Court for DC, Prince George’s, Montgomery and Charles counties · Firm website
  • Trial recordMark Rollins states 75+ jury trials and 1,000+ bench trials · Firm’s own statement
  • FeesNot published; free consultation; several reviewers describe a flat fee · Firm website, Google reviews
  • LanguagesSpanish intake forms and chat · Firm website
  • Google rating4.9 from 184 reviews · Google, checked October 2026
Your first-call script
QIs your fee for a gun case flat, and what does it cover if the case goes to trial?
QWhich partner will stand up in court with me, Mark Rollins or Ada Chan?
QIf the charge is dismissed, is record sealing included in the fee?
From the reviews we read
+ Quick replies by text+ Clear, flat fees+ Dismissals and record sealing~ A few low ratings with no detail

Reviewers return to the same points: the partners answer texts quickly, explain fees up front, and several describe a flat rate. Many mention dismissals and later record sealing. A handful of low ratings appear without any detail, which is worth asking about but hard to weigh.

Fit and watch-outA practical fit for someone who wants fee clarity and direct partner contact. The trade-off: it is a small team, so ask how they cover overlapping trial dates, and its Google hours are weekdays only.
05

Scrofano Law PC

People who want a larger criminal-only team with offices in DC, Rockville and Fairfax and a detailed CPWL guide in English and Spanish
Why it made the list

Scrofano Law PC works from 600 F St NW in Penn Quarter, with further offices in Rockville, Maryland and Fairfax, Virginia. Its carrying a pistol without a license guide explains what counts as carrying under DC law, including a pistol under a car seat or in a console, why out-of-state permits do not apply, and the stages from arraignment within one to three days to trial. A Spanish version of the page is linked from it. The website lists fourteen team members led by Joseph A. Scrofano, who states he has litigated more than 1,000 cases in DC courts. The firm practices criminal defense only, across DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Proof file
  • Lead attorneyJoseph A. Scrofano; team of fourteen listed, including Paolo Gnocchi and Jason M. Kalafat · Firm website, Our Team
  • Offices600 F St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004; Rockville, MD; Fairfax, VA · Firm website, Google
  • Phone202-765-3175 in the site header and contact block; other pages and Google list different numbers · Firm website, Google
  • Gun pageCarrying without a license: what counts as carrying, penalties, out-of-state permits, case stages; Spanish version available · Firm CPWL page
  • Trial recordJoseph Scrofano states 1,000+ cases litigated in DC courts · Firm’s own statement
  • FeesNot published; consultation offered, call to ask whether it is free · Firm website
  • Google rating4.9 from 122 reviews · Google, checked October 2026
Your first-call script
QWhich of your attorneys has tried carrying-without-a-license cases, and who would handle mine?
QIf the gun was found in my car, what search and access defenses would you look at first?
QYour website lists several phone numbers. Which one reaches the lawyer on my case after hours?
From the reviews we read
+ Clear explanations+ Several named lawyers praised+ Dismissals mentioned~ Some reviews from non-gun matters

Reviewers name several lawyers, including Joseph Scrofano, Paolo Gnocchi and Jason Kalafat, and describe clear explanations, steady updates and dismissals. Some reviews concern school, employment or DUI matters rather than gun cases. A separate Google profile for Joseph A. Scrofano includes a review from a gun owner referred after a self-defense incident.

Fit and watch-outA fit for someone who wants a larger criminal-only firm with a clear written guide to DC gun charges and three offices across the region. The trade-off: with a team of this size, the lawyer you meet first may not be the one in court, and the site lists several different phone numbers.
04

Six things to settle before you hire a DC gun charge lawyer

A written fee agreement. Flat or hourly, what a trial adds, and whether motions, investigators and record sealing are included.
Who stands up in court. The name of the lawyer who will handle your arraignment, any detention hearing and the trial.
Which court, which prosecutor. Whether your case sits in DC Superior Court or federal court, and whether the U.S. Attorney’s Office or the DC Attorney General’s office is prosecuting.
A plan for release. What the lawyer will argue if the government asks to hold you before trial, and how fast they can be there.
Your gun paperwork. Bring any registration, out-of-state permit and purchase records to the first meeting.
Collateral effects. Ask about immigration, security clearance, professional licence and job consequences before you take any plea.
05

Frequently asked questions

What is the penalty for carrying a pistol without a license in DC?

+
Under D.C. Code 22-4504(a), carrying a pistol outside your home or place of business without a DC license is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Who prosecutes gun charges in Washington, DC?

+
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes adult felonies, including carrying a pistol without a license. The DC Office of the Attorney General prosecutes certain weapons misdemeanors, including some unregistered firearm cases.

Does my out-of-state carry permit work in DC?

+
No. DC requires its own license to carry a pistol and does not honor carry permits from other states, as Ervin Kibria Law notes on its site. Visitors arrested with a gun that is legal at home are a common case type.

Do these firms charge for a first consultation?

+
Four of the five firms on this page advertise a free first consultation; Scrofano Law PC offers a consultation but does not say on its gun page whether it is free. None publishes a fee for a gun case, so ask for the fee in writing.

Can I get a free lawyer for a DC gun charge?

+
If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one from the Public Defender Service or the Criminal Justice Act panel, usually before your first court appearance.

Is this list a ranking?

+
No. Lotze Mosley PLLC is listed first, and the order of the other four firms is not a ranking. Compare each firm on the facts above.

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