A Pasco County resident has entered a plea of guilty after being charged with illegal possession of a firearm, given his status as a convicted felon. James Vega Jr., 28, from Zephyrhills could be looking at a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison, with a trial date pending further notice, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On July 29, 2023 Vega was stopped for what began as a routine traffic violation in Lake County at which point he volunteered the information to the officer that he had a firearm on his person, subsequent to this the officer secured the loaded weapon and upon further search found an additional loaded firearm in a bag on the passenger seat; this, following Vega's conviction in 2016 on a charge of aggravated battery with great bodily harm which comes with a stipulation that he forfeit his right to bear arms.
This case unfolded as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), rather than in isolation, a wider law enforcement initiative aimed at staunching the flow of violent crime and gun violence, ensuring safer environments across various communities. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk leads the prosecution with support from investigative work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Groveland Police Department, as shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In 2021, the Department of Justice strengthened Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) with a comprehensive crime reduction strategy that includes both vigorous enforcement and community collaboration, as outlined in the same press release. This strategy is based on four key principles: building trust and legitimacy within communities, supporting community-based organizations in their prevention efforts, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and critically evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives to enhance neighborhood safety.
