United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that James Vega, Jr., 28, of Zephyrhills, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vega faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Court records indicate that in 2016, Vega was convicted of aggravated battery with great bodily harm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
On July 29, 2023, Vega was stopped for a traffic violation in Lake County. He informed the officer that he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer seized the firearm, which was loaded, and later discovered another loaded firearm in a bag on the passenger seat of Vega’s vehicle.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Groveland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration among law enforcement and community organizations. The initiative focuses on fostering trust, supporting violence prevention efforts, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.