Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Oscar Dewayne Blevins, 26, of Selma, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Blevins pleaded guilty to the charge in March of 2020.

In connection with his guilty plea, Blevins admitted that on December 29, 2019, he was stopped at a driver’s license checkpoint for driving a car with no tag. Deputies with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office noticed the odor of marijuana emanating from the car. Deputies asked Blevins, the sole occupant of the car, if he had smoked any marijuana inside the car. Blevins replied, “yes,” and stated that he had “smoked some last night at the club.” Blevins gave deputies consent to search the car. Deputies recovered a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol underneath the driver’s seat. Blevins admitted to possessing the pistol, which had been reported stolen. Blevins also admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and therefore could not possess firearms. At the time he possessed the pistol, Blevins had prior felony convictions for Manslaughter and Possession of Marijuana, First Degree in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama.

Senior United States District Court Judge William H. Steele imposed a sentence of 60 months’ incarceration, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. During that time, Blevins will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but the judge ordered Blevins to pay $100 in special assessments.

This case was investigated by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Justin D. Roller.

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