Devin Wiseman, Firearm Possession, Tennessee 2023

MEMPHIS, TN – Devin Wiseman, 37, of Shelby County, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after a judge slammed him with a hefty sentence for illegally possessing a firearm. The conviction stems from a routine traffic stop in October 2021 that quickly spiraled into a weapons charge, revealing a pattern of violent offenses.

The bust went down when Memphis Police pulled over a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze sporting bogus temporary tags. Wiseman, behind the wheel with a revoked license, readily admitted to smoking marijuana with his passenger. But the smell of weed wasn’t the biggest problem. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm pistol stashed under the passenger seat, alongside a 20-round extended magazine crammed into the driver’s side door.

Wiseman didn’t bother denying ownership of the firearm. The real kicker? Federal prosecutors successfully proved in May 2023 that Wiseman had racked up three separate violent felony convictions – on different occasions – triggering the Armed Career Criminal Act. That meant an enhanced sentence, and a one-way ticket to a lengthy prison stay. Forget about parole; the federal system doesn’t offer it.

U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz didn’t mince words announcing the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raney Irwin and Naya Bedini drove the prosecution, building a case that stuck. The ATF, along with the Memphis Police Department, provided crucial investigative support. This wasn’t just about a gun; it was about a repeat offender flouting the law and endangering the community.

Ritz framed the case within the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” initiative, a broad effort to unite law enforcement at all levels and target violent crime. The program emphasizes building trust with communities, supporting local anti-violence groups, and focusing enforcement where it’s needed most. It’s a lofty goal, but this case shows that sometimes, simple street-level policing – a traffic stop, a search – is enough to get a dangerous criminal off the streets.

Wiseman’s 180-month sentence (15 years) includes three years of supervised release after he finally walks free. But for now, the streets of Memphis are a little safer, and a known felon is paying the price for his choices. The Nashville Field Division of the ATF oversaw the investigation. The case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries serious federal consequences.

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