Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a significant legal development, Devon Oliver, an 18-year-old resident of Gainesville, has been formally charged by a federal grand jury for possessing a firearm with a tampered serial number. This announcement was made by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, highlighting the gravity of the charges.

On December 23, 2025, Oliver was present for his arraignment, which took place in federal court under the watchful eye of United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry. The proceedings unfolded in Gainesville, setting the stage for a jury trial scheduled for January 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., to be conducted by Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. The stakes are high for Oliver, as a conviction could lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.

The Circumstances Leading to Oliver’s Arrest

The incident that led to Oliver’s arrest occurred on October 22, 2025, around 1:30 p.m. It all began when a Gainesville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop at Arbor Park Apartments, located at 309 SW 16th Avenue. The stop involved a scooter for an unspecified traffic infraction. As the situation unfolded, the rider, later identified as Oliver, reportedly made eye contact with the officer before bolting westward through the apartment complex.

Despite the officer’s command to halt, Oliver allegedly shifted his direction, fleeing eastward while clutching the right side of his clothing. This behavior raised suspicions, as the officer relayed via radio that Oliver was escaping while seemingly concealing an object, a gesture often associated with carrying a firearm. This crucial observation set in motion the series of events leading to Oliver’s current legal predicament.

The officer eventually found Oliver sitting on the second floor of a stairwell. Officers traced his flight path and reportedly found shoes matching the ones he’d worn at the time of the traffic stop and a 9mm Palmetto State firearm in some shrubs; the firearm had an extended magazine, was loaded with 22 rounds, had purple and white rubber bands around it, and was missing the bottom section of the frame, where the serial number would be.

Post Miranda, Oliver reportedly said he had purchased the firearm from an unknown white man for $1,500 a few months ago. He reportedly admitted to discarding the firearm while he ran “due to the fear of being shot by police.” He said he did not remove the serial number from the firearm but just added the rubber bands.

Oliver, who attends an alternative high school, has a juvenile conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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.