LAPORTE COUNTY, IN – Martin Devalois, 40, of Romeoville, Illinois, is headed to federal prison for nearly eight years after a jury convicted him of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty handed down the 92-month sentence Tuesday, followed by three years of supervised release.
The case stems from a reckless 30-minute pursuit in March 2021. Devalois allegedly floored it through LaPorte County, hitting speeds of 90 miles per hour as he sped through the city of LaPorte. The joyride ended abruptly when he crashed into a snowbank, bringing his vehicle – and a loaded handgun – to a halt.
Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) quickly determined Devalois wasn’t supposed to have the weapon. He’s racked up multiple prior felony convictions, each one a legal bar to owning a firearm. The specific nature of those prior convictions weren’t detailed in court documents.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office assisted the ATF in the investigation, providing crucial support in tracking down evidence and building the case against Devalois. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Joel L. Mathur handled the prosecution, securing the conviction after a two-day jury trial in December 2023.
Federal officials are framing Devalois’s sentencing as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The program emphasizes collaboration between law enforcement at all levels and community organizations. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting local groups, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts.
Devalois’s case highlights the ongoing federal effort to keep guns out of the hands of those legally prohibited from possessing them. While the specifics of his actions remain largely unaddressed, the sentence sends a clear message: illegally possessing a firearm carries serious consequences, especially for repeat offenders. The full details of the case can be found through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.
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