A 29-year-old man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. Devonte Oye Robertson received his sentence on December 20, 2024, following a guilty plea entered on August 14, 2024. He admitted to possessing Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson pistols on January 19, 2024, despite having prior felony convictions.
The sentencing took place in Cedar Rapids under United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Alongside the prison term of 24 months, Robertson is required to serve a three-year supervised release period after completing his sentence. It is noted that there is no parole available within the federal system.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, to strengthen PSN with core principles including fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
Robertson remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transferred to a federal prison facility.
The prosecution was led by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson. The investigation involved collaboration between the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).