In a recent court decision out of Southwest Georgia, Devon Marquell Rambo, a 28-year-old with a history of criminal convictions, has been sentenced to a substantial 15 years in prison for the illegal possession of a firearm. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office on Wednesday, Rambo will also face three years of supervised release following his prison term. The conviction stems from a May 28, 2025, trial where Rambo was found guilty on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. It's clear that, within the federal system, parole is simply not an option.
U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes underscored the commitment to prosecuting repeat offenders "with violent criminal records when they are caught illegally possessing firearms" in the Middle District of Georgia. This case illustrates the ongoing cooperative effort between various levels of law enforcement aiming to enhance community safety, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The particulars of the case reveal that on September 20, 2024, Albany Police Department officers were called to a residence on Avalon Avenue in response to a report of shooting and disorderly conduct. Pursuant to these events, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Rambo's dwelling, leading to his capture. An article from the U.S. Attorney’s Office details that officers, upon searching the home, discovered Rambo had smeared oil around the residence—a futile effort to complicate his inevitable arrest.
Further investigation unearthed a black safe containing a pistol, a semi-automatic rifle, related magazines, and ammunition, a clear violation of the law given Rambo’s status as a convicted felon. His criminal history includes prior felonies for domestic violence and burglary in Texas, and he was under an active warrant for aggravated assault at the time of his arrest in Georgia. "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," expressed Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, ATF Atlanta Field Division, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rambo’s sentencing also falls under the broader umbrella of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combatting illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and reducing violent crime through coordinated national efforts. The case was a result of collaborative work between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Albany Police Department, and the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office.
