Columbus Man with Lengthy, Violent Criminal Past Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Gun

COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with previous convictions for aggravated assault and other felonies was sentenced to serve more than nine years in prison after he admitted to illegally possessing a firearm.

Devontae Jammell Morris, 29, was sentenced to serve 115 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on June 11. Morris previously pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm on Jan. 29. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Felons with lengthy violent criminal histories who illegally possess guns can expect federal prosecution and should count on stiff sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level and across the Middle District of Georgia is working to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer.”

“This is a clear example of what happens when a convicted felon is caught possessing a gun. It’s illegal,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to remove guns from the hands of violent offenders.”

According to documents and statements filed in court, a deputy with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle after it exited a parking lot on Buena Vista Road in Columbus at a high rate of speed on Nov. 19, 2022. The vehicle, driven by Morris, did not stop and continued on Old Buena Vista Road before stopping. Morris exited the car, ran across the road and entered a store. Deputies found him in a bathroom located in the back storage area of the store. Morris had a small amount of illegal drugs on him and $1,752 in cash. Officers found a semi-automatic Glock pistol with a TruGlo laser, a Glock magazine, an extended magazine, bullets and a digital scale in his vehicle.

Morris has many prior criminal convictions in the Superior Court of Muscogee County, Georgia, including for aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and aggravated battery. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department and ATF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the Government.