Devonte Jermaine Kelley, Firearms Conspiracy, Virginia 2025

A mother and son duo, Devonte Jermaine Kelley and Lalita Jane Owens, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license in Newport News, Virginia.

According to court documents, Kelley, 24, and Owens, 45, used online marketplaces and other avenues to facilitate and negotiate illegal firearms transactions. During the conspiracy, Kelley was involved in the dealing of 23 firearms with a value of at least $12,117.24. Owens purchased 16 of the 23 firearms before Kelley’s 21st birthday when he could not legally purchase handguns.

Kelley and Owens made false statements on federal forms attesting to being the actual transferees and buyers of the firearms during purchases from licensed firearms dealers. Law enforcement agencies connected several firearms purchased by Kelley and Owens that were seized or used in crimes involving associates of Kelley, some of whom are affiliated with the Walk Down Gang, formerly known as Warwick Lawnz.

Kelley pled guilty on August 21, 2025, and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Owens pled guilty on August 26, 2025, and was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Podlesni and Peter Osyf prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the federal government to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Devonte Jermaine Kelley, 24, and Lalita Jane Owens, 45, both of Newport News, were sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license.

The defendants made false statements on federal forms attesting to being the actual transferees and buyers of the firearms during purchases from licensed firearms dealers.

Kelley and Owens were involved in the dealing of 23 firearms with a value of at least $12,117.24, with 16 of the firearms purchased by Owens before Kelley’s 21st birthday.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/newport-news-pair-sentenced-prison-firearms-conspiracy