Florida Teen Gets Two Years in Prison for Gun with Erased Serial Number

GAINESVILLE, Florida — Devon Oliver, 18, of Gainesville, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on May 4, 2026, for possessing a firearm with a removed serial number, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

The sentencing affects Oliver directly, requiring him to serve 24 months in a federal correctional facility. The case stems from his affiliation with a Gainesville-area gang, as detailed in the Justice Department release, which identifies him as a gang member involved in the firearm offense.

Federal records show that such offenses often link to broader gang activities, but the bundle specifies only this individual case, with no mention of additional defendants or related charges.

Prior to sentencing, Oliver faced charges under federal firearms laws prohibiting possession of guns with obliterated serial numbers, which render weapons untraceable. The new state imposes immediate incarceration, with the sentence handed down by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

The change takes effect upon Oliver's transfer to federal custody, typically within weeks of sentencing per standard Bureau of Prisons procedures.

The prison term triggers several operational consequences. Federal probation services will monitor Oliver post-release for any supervised period, as is standard for such convictions. The case advances Justice Department efforts to curb illegal firearms in gang contexts, potentially leading to further investigations in the Gainesville area based on the gang affiliation noted in the release.

Courts in the Northern District of Florida will handle any appeals, with filing deadlines starting 14 days after sentencing under Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

This sentencing follows a pattern of federal actions against firearms violations in Florida. The Justice Department has pursued similar cases in the Northern District, including multiple indictments for ghost guns—firearms without serial numbers—in 2025, per public court dockets.