Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Javier Haro, 34, of Modesto, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Griffin is prosecuting the case.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2015, Haro was in possession of a Glock 9 mm handgun, a Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun and 9 mm ammunition. The indictment alleges that Haro has prior felony convictions.

If convicted, Haro faces a maximum statutory penalty for each count of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state and local law enforcement to combat gun and gang crime. At the core of PSN is increased federal prosecution to incapacitate chronic violent offenders as well as to communicate a credible deterrent threat to potential gun offenders.

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