Rockford Man Charged With Illegal Possession of Firearms

 ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly illegally possessing multiple firearms earlier this year.

The first count of the indictment alleges that on April 30, 2021, JAMES PETERSON, 40, illegally possessed a loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a .45-caliber handgun.  The second count alleges that on Aug. 18, 2021, Peterson illegally possessed a .45-caliber handgun.  As a previously convicted felon, Peterson was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm.

Arraignment in U.S. District Court in Rockford has not yet been set.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Angie Salazar, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The Illinois State Police’s State Line Area Narcotics Team (SLANT), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.

The public is reminded that an indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Each count in the indictment carries a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.