Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking a hard line against firearms application fraud, having recently slapped a Winnebago County man with multiple felony charges for deception. According to a statement from the Attorney General's office, 22-year-old Jayvian A. Gargani of Rockford allegedly lied on his Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card application – an act that could land him behind bars for years if convicted.

The Attorney General's charges include two counts of unlawful violation of the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act, with each Class 2 felony bearing a potential seven-year prison sentence. Adding to Gargani's legal woes are two counts of forgery, classified as Class 3 felonies, each complete with a possible five-year term. Lying on his FOID card application, Gargani now awaits a subsequent court rendezvous on March 21.

"In order to protect Illinois communities from deadly gun violence, those who possess firearms must be in accordance with the law," Attorney General Raoul asserted. He underscored his commitment to prosecuting those who falsify gun permit applications. The evidence, as the AG's office alleges, points to December 2022 when Gargani knowingly submitted false details alongside a forged application to the Illinois State Police.

Backing up the state's fire against illegal gun possession, ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly expressed their zero-tolerance policy on firearms fraud. "ISP will continue to work closely with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate individuals lying to police to get a gun illegally," Kelly said, emphasizing the collaboration destined to clamp down on prohibited persons gunning for weapons through criminal means.

In the broader fight against illicit firearms acquisition, Raoul's office also dedicates efforts to enhance public awareness regarding Illinois’ red flag law and addresses existing issues within the state's firearms licensing system. Hopeful for justice, they remind residents that the accused remains innocent unless proven guilty in the court of justice. Assistant Attorney Generals Steven Knight and Peter Ravoori are leading the charge on behalf of Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau and Criminal Enforcement Bureau, respectively.