Gainesville Area Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison For Firearm Offense

Gainesville, Florida - Devon Oliver, 18, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Our communities have been plagued by gang violence for too long, and Operation Take Back America is devoting the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing those dangerous, violent criminals from our streets. This successful prosecution is yet another win for the citizens of the Northern District of Florida, and a reassurance that my office remains committed to delivering the safe streets that they deserve."

Court documents reflect that on October 22, 2025, the defendant, a documented member of a local gang, was in possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. The firearm, which had an extended magazine loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition, was recovered after the defendant attempted to flee from law enforcement through a Gainesville apartment complex:

"A weapon with its serial number removed and loaded with an extended magazine is a direct threat to every resident and every officer who encounters it," said Chief Moya, Gainesville Police Department. "We will have zero tolerance for violent offenders who arm themselves unlawfully, and we will continue working relentlessly to take these guns off our streets."

After serving two years in prison, Oliver will be on supervised release for an additional three years, during which he will be on home detention for six months.

The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

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.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.