An Oakland man, Jason Nious, was arrested on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nious, aged 42, appeared in federal district court following his arrest.

The arrest stemmed from an incident on September 18, 2024, when Oakland police were searching for another individual with an active arrest warrant for gun possession. Officers encountered Nious standing near the wanted person and next to a vehicle registered to him on East 15th Street. A search of the car revealed a gun with a live round in the chamber and a loaded magazine inside a bag on the front passenger seat. Nious is noted to have previous convictions in Alameda County related to human trafficking of a minor, providing controlled substances to a minor, and armed robbery.

Nious's next court appearance is scheduled for December 23, 2024.

The area where Nious was found, known as "the Blade," has seen an increase in violent crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and Oakland Police Department are working together to address sex trafficking and violence there.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI San Francisco Special Agent Robert K. Tripp announced the charges against Nious.

"A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed," they stated. "All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), Nious could face up to 15 years imprisonment and fines reaching $250,000. Sentencing would follow guidelines set by federal statutes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is leading the prosecution with assistance from Amala James. The case results from an investigation by both the FBI and Oakland Police Department.