Two men from the Richmond area have been sentenced to prison and a third has been convicted this week for federal firearms offenses involving possession of firearms by felons.
Court documents state that Devon Sherman Mickins, 26, was identified by Richmond Police after he posted a photo on Instagram holding a rifle on August 30, 2024. On September 4, an RPD detective saw Mickins with the same rifle outside his apartment. Officers approached him as he sat with the weapon in his lap. Mickins complied with police orders and was taken into custody without incident. Another firearm was found inside his apartment.
Mickins had previous felony convictions for malicious wounding, robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon from incidents in Richmond in 2019 and 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 6 and was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover prosecuted the case.
On September 29, 2024, officers observed Javion Stamper, 25, appearing to carry a firearm in his waistband while standing with a group. When officers stopped to investigate, Stamper fled but was apprehended after a foot chase. The firearm he attempted to hide was recovered; it had been reported stolen and was loaded. Stamper had previously been convicted of robbery in 2019.
Stamper pleaded guilty on April 25 and received a sentence of one year and nine months from Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
Henrico County Police conducted a traffic stop on May 7, 2024, involving Ross Allan Jefferson, 44, who had outstanding warrants in Richmond and Petersburg. During the stop, officers discovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine under the driver’s seat; its serial number had been removed. A .40 caliber round of ammunition was also found in Jefferson’s pocket.
Jefferson had ten prior adult felony convictions including drug-related offenses and possession of ammunition by a felon dating back to 2002 through 2015. He pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to fifteen years in prison at sentencing scheduled for November 20 before Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood of ATF’s Washington Field Division; Rick Edwards of Richmond Police; Eric D. English of Henrico County Police Division; Jason S. Miyares, Virginia Attorney General; and Colette Wallace McEachin from the City of Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced these developments.
“These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” officials said in their announcement.“On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.”
Additional information about these cases can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching for Case Nos.: Mickins (3:25-cr-8), Stamper (3:25-cr-18), Jefferson (3:24-cr-130).
