A San Antonio man with a past littered with violent felonies has been convicted by a federal jury for illegal possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Dante Delray Vecera, found unresponsive in a vehicle obstructing traffic with a variety of drugs in plain sight, woke up to a new reality—a return to the federal prison system that could last up to 15 years, compounded by a potential $250,000 fine.
Police found Vecera on the 410 frontage road, the engine running and doors locked, with signs of an overdose prompting officers to administer Narcan. Upon trying to identify the incapacitated man, an unholstered pistol emerged from the pocket of his pants. After medical clearance, he was taken into custody, refusing all field sobriety tests.
The office of Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman announced the conviction, which was a team effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the local police departments of San Antonio and Castle Hills. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karina O’Daniel and Amy Hail are credited with prosecuting the case.
As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this case isn’t just about gun laws. It's part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Initiative—backed by legislation first enacted in 1994 and strengthened with reauthorizations over the years, most recently in 2022. With over $11 billion in funding from VAWA, the initiative seeks to improve the criminal justice response and inspire a united community effort against crimes that are often hidden behind closed doors.
