JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – 24-year-old Eric Joel Valdez of Clay County has pleaded guilty to theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL), officials announced. Valdez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and restitution to the victim, with sentencing scheduled for March 18, 2026.
Valdez, who is currently serving a 10-year state prison sentence in New Jersey for two armed robberies involving the stolen firearm, entered Orange Park Gun & Pawn on November 11, 2022, requesting to see a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol. Surveillance footage captured Valdez suddenly fleeing the store with the firearm.
A week later, New Jersey authorities stopped Valdez in connection with an armed robbery investigation and recovered the stolen pistol in his vehicle, loaded with eleven rounds of ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Frein is prosecuting the case.
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