Pasco County Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Vega, Jr. (28, Zephyrhills) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vega faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the court records, in 2016, Vega was convicted of the felony offense 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. Vega told the officer that he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer took the firearm, which was loaded. The officer later discovered another loaded firearm in a bag on the passenger seat of the vehicle.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Groveland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.