Cesar Castro, Felon in Possession of Firearm, California 2023

FRESNO, Calif. — In a shocking turn of events, a federal grand jury has returned a one-count indictment against Cesar Castro, 41, of Modesto, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This is not the first time Castro has been in trouble with the law, as he was serving a term of post-release community supervision following a firearms conviction at the time of his arrest.

According to court documents, Castro was arrested in Modesto on June 1 in possession of a loaded firearm. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Castro is not the only one facing charges in this case. Juan Dimas, 31, of Modesto, was also charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Dimas was arrested in Modesto on May 20 after discarding a loaded firearm during a police chase. Like Castro, Dimas was serving a term of post-release community supervision following a firearms conviction at the time of his arrest.

The investigation into Castro and Dimas was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Schuh is prosecuting the case.

The charges against Castro and Dimas are only allegations, and they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, both men face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

Defendant: Cesar Castro

Criminal Charges: Felon in possession of a firearm

City and State: Modesto, California

Exact Date: June 1, 2023

Sentence or Outcome: 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine

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