TYLER, Texas - A 34 year old Fairfield man has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Victor Vasquez pleaded guilty today in U.S. Magistrate Judith Guthrie’s court to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal grand jury indicted Vasquez for the offense on Oct. 3, 2012. Vasquez admitted that on April 4, 2012 he was stopped by a police officer in Rusk, Texas for speeding. During the course of the stop, the officer determined that Vasquez had been drinking alcoholic beverages and Vasquez was arrested for DWI. Following the arrest, the officer inventoried Vasquez’s vehicle and found a 7.62x39 mm, semi-automatic rifle and ammunition for the rifle. The next day, a Rusk detective determined that Vasquez had a prior felony conviction in Kansas for Attempted Aggravated Burglary. A search warrant for Vasquez’s vehicle led to the discovery of a short-barrel, 12 gauge shotgun and a dozen 12 gauge shotgun shells under the back seat. Vasquez must forfeit the seized weapons and ammunition.
Vasquez is facing up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Rusk Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Tyler Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
