Stanislaus Felon Sentenced for Possession of Ammunition

FRESNO, Calif. – United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that today United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced two-time convicted felon, Sergio V. Garcia, 32, of Riverbank, to six years and five months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of rifle ammunition.

According to court records, on December 3, 2010, Garcia was found to be in possession of live rounds of ammunition. He had been convicted in 1998 of offering to furnish methamphetamine to a 13-year-old minor and in 2003 of possession of narcotics for sale.

Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager stated, “The felons in our community who possess firearms or ammunition are put on notice that together with our federal partners, we will target them for arrest and prosecution in whichever venue brings the most justice and harshest sentence.”

This case is the result of Project Safe Neighborhoods–a project designed to reduce illegal drugs and violent crimes with a particular focus on gang activities. Project Safe Neighborhoods brings to bear a coordinated effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies including the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Yasin Mohammad prosecuted the case.