Man Pleads Guilty to Being Felon in Possession of Firearm

TYLER — A 34 year old Fairfield man has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Victor Vasquez pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. Magistrate Judith Guthrie’s court. He is facing up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

Vasquez admitted that on April 4, 2012 he was stopped by a police officer in Rusk for speeding. During the course of the stop, the officer determined that Vasquez had been drinking alcoholic beverages and Vasquez was arrested for DWI. Following the arrest, the officer inventoried Vasquez’s vehicle and found a 7.62×39 mm, semi-automatic rifle and ammunition for the rifle. The next day, a Rusk detective determined that Vasquez had a prior felony conviction in Kansas for Attempted Aggravated Burglary. A search warrant for Vasquez’s vehicle led to the discovery of a short-barrel, 12 gauge shotgun and a dozen 12 gauge shotgun shells under the back seat. Vasquez must forfeit the seized weapons and ammunition.