Fairfield Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

TYLER — A 35-year-old Fairfield, Texas man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Victor Vasquez pleaded guilty on March 7 to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Vasquez must also forfeit a 12 gauge shotgun and a 7.62×39 mm semi-automatic rifle to the government.

Federal prosecutors say on April 4, 2012, Vasquez 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 he 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 for attempted aggravated burglary in Kansas. The detective obtained a search warrant to search Vasquez’s vehicle more thoroughly. During the search, a short-barrel, 12 gauge shotgun and a dozen 12 gauge shotgun shells were discovered under the back seat of the vehicle.