Guilty Verdict in Trial of Recidivist Felon in Possession of a Firearm

ALBANY, Ga. – A Georgia resident with prior criminal convictions, including for domestic violence, was found guilty this week at trial of illegally possessing a firearm.

Devon Marquell Rambo, 28, is guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rambo faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The trial began on May 27 and concluded on May 28. Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner is presiding over the case. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Convicted felons caught illegally possessing firearms will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “I want to thank the Albany Police Department and ATF for their ongoing collaboration to help us uphold the law.”

“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,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, ATF Atlanta Field Division. “This verdict sends a clear message: We are watching, we are acting and we are not backing down.”

“We are grateful for the assistance that we have been receiving from the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold offenders accountable,” said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley. “I hope this case serves as a warning that the illegal possession of weapons is not tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to court documents and statements referenced in court,   Albany Police Department (APD) officers responded to a report of shooting and disorderly conduct on Sept. 20, 2024, at around 10:30 a.m. at a residence on Avalon Avenue. Based on this, the officers obtained a search warrant and lawfully executed that search warrant on the residence. Officers found Rambo alone at the house. After Rambo was apprehended, officers commenced the search of the residence. Inside Rambo’s house, officers found he had covered his wife’s dog, furniture and several areas of the home with oil, which would make it difficult for officers to arrest him. During the search, they also found a black safe in one of the rooms, which contained a pistol and a semi-automatic rifle, two 9mm pistol magazines, one rifle magazine and ammunition along with Rambo’s social security card, credit card and Texas inmate identification card. Rambo has prior felony convictions in Texas for domestic violence and burglary. There was also an active arrest warrant out of Texas for aggravated assault at the time of this incident in Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Albany Police Department with assistance from the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Attorneys Sara Lim and Matthew Redavid are prosecuting the case for the Government.