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. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith made the announcement.
Court documents indicate 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 prior felony convictions—including possession of a controlled substance for sale and evading law enforcement—Valencia is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation leading to the 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 convicted, Valencia could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It should be noted that charges are merely allegations at this stage; Valencia remains 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 community organizations. The U.S. Department of Justice reinforced PSN on May 26, 2021, emphasizing trust-building in communities, supporting violence prevention programs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.