Devon Marquell Rambo, aged 28, from Georgia, was found guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon this week after a two-day federal trial. In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker underscored the commitment to prosecuting convicted felons found in illegal possession of firearms. According to a press release from the Middle District of Georgia U.S. Attorney's Office, Rambo could face up to 15 years in prison for the crime. The presiding Chief U.S. District Judge, Leslie Gardner, has not yet set a date for sentencing.
The trial, which began on May 27 and concluded on the following day, heard that Albany Police Department officers, having responded to reports of shooting and disorderly conduct on September 20, 2024, obtained and executed a search warrant at Rambo’s residence on Avalon Avenue. Found alone in the house that was strategically covered with oil in anticipation of making the officers’ task of arresting him a challenge, Rambo was discovered with a black safe containing illegal firearms. In the safe, police also discovered Rambo’s social security card, credit card, and Texas inmate identification card – aligning the man with his prior felony convictions for domestic violence and burglary in Texas, and an active arrest warrant for aggravated assault.
This conviction falls under the nationwide initiative Operation Take Back America, geared towards combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and preventing violent crime, led by the Department of Justice. The case against Rambo signifies a joint effort in which the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Albany Police Department, with the assistance of the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, worked in collaboration. "When convicted felons repeatedly ignore the law and continue to carry guns, they leave us no choice but to bring the full force of federal prosecution," Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Atlanta Field Division, remarked on the case's significance to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Reflecting on the collaborative efforts, Albany Police Chief Michael Persley expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office in prosecuting offenders. The overarching goal is to send a warning that illegal possession of weapons will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to its fullest extent, as echoed by Persley’s hope. Moreover, the case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Sara Lim and Matthew Redavid, ensuring that justice was served within the legal framework established to keep our communities safe.
