Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has brought charges against a Lake County man, Edwin Lara, for his alleged deception on a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card application, as per a recent press release. Lara, 34, hailing from Waukegan, is facing two counts of unlawful violation of the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act and two counts of forgery, after his not-guilty plea in Lake County Circuit Court. With the Class 2 and Class 3 felonies stacked against him, Lara could see a maximum of seven and five years in prison, respectively, if convicted, as reported by the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
Raoul’s announcement, as detailed by the Illinois Attorney General's Office, asserts that Lara attempted to obfuscate his past felony conviction, an allegation that is underpinning the prosecution's case. "Individuals who knowingly falsify information in order to obtain a firearm break the law, and need to be held accountable," said Raoul. Despite the seriousness of the charges, it is reiterated that the presumption of innocence is to be maintained until, or unless, evidence proves otherwise.
The joint effort by the Attorney General’s office and the Illinois State Police underscores a larger initiative to curb the illicit acquisition of firearms. As mentioned by ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly, this partnership aims to "stop prohibited persons from criminally obtaining a firearm" and to protect the integrity of the FOID card application process. Edwin Lara’s next court date is scheduled for August 7, when the evidence against him will be further scrutinized.
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