Convicted felon faces up to 15 years for firearm possession after traffic stop in Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, Florida — James Vega, Jr., a 28-year-old from Zephyrhills, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.

Vega faces up to 15 years in federal prison, though a sentencing date has not yet been set. Court records show that Vega was previously convicted in 2016 for aggravated battery with great bodily harm, making it illegal for him to possess firearms and ammunition.

On July 29, 2023, Vega was stopped for a traffic violation in Lake County. During the stop, Vega informed the officer that he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer confiscated the loaded firearm and later discovered another loaded firearm in a bag on the passenger seat of Vega's vehicle.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Groveland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust in communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results. The Department launched a strengthened violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.