Defendant Antoine Burton will be prosecuted in federal court on gun charges

Baltimore, Md. (July 8, 2026) – “Our office entered a Nolle Prosequi in the Baltimore City Circuit Court case against Defendant Antoine Burton after determining that the federal system provides the strongest path to holding this repeat violent offender accountable and protecting public safety.

“Mr. Burton is currently on federal parole for a prior conviction. By referring the firearm prosecution to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he faces potential penalties not only for the federal gun charges but also for violating his federal supervision. Based on his criminal history, he may also qualify as an Armed Career Criminal, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to a maximum of Life in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Collectively, these penalties could keep Mr. Burton incarcerated well into his late 60s or early 70s.

“It is important to note that this Nolle Prosequi does not preclude our office from prosecuting Mr. Burton for the attempted murder charge in the future.

“This decision reflects our commitment to pursuing the most effective prosecution possible, securing the most appropriate sentence available under the law, and continuing our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to keep violent repeat offenders off our streets.” - Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney