A federal grand jury has indicted Ignacio Valencia, 33, of Plumas Lake, on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.

Court documents reveal that Valencia was found with a loaded Glock model 20, 10 mm caliber handgun and a magazine containing 25 rounds of 10 mm ammunition. Due to previous felony convictions, Valencia is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. His past convictions include possession of a controlled substance for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm, evading a peace officer in willful or wanton disregard for safety, and being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm.

The investigation leading to this indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Elk Grove Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Vanek is handling the prosecution.

If found guilty, Valencia could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence would be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; Valencia is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.