Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident with prior criminal convictions, including for domestic violence, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Devon Marquell Rambo, 28, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Jan. 21. Rambo was found guilty at trial on May 28, 2025, of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our office will prosecute repeat offenders with violent criminal records when they are caught illegally possessing firearms in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “We are grateful for the continued strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners at every level, working with us for safer communities.”

“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 he was apprehended, officers searched the residence, discovering that Rambo 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.

Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Lim and Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.