FRESNO, CA – Patrick Feaster, 23, of Fresno, has admitted to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, a federal offense stemming from the multi-agency ‘Operation No Fly Zone.’ The guilty plea, entered today, marks a significant development in a crackdown on rising gun violence in the Central Valley.
According to court documents, investigators zeroed in on Feaster on March 16, 2022, after receiving information he was en route to obtain a handgun and extended magazine. When authorities attempted a traffic stop shortly after he left the location, Feaster bolted, abandoning his vehicle and attempting to flee on foot. A subsequent chase ended with his arrest and the recovery of a bag containing a loaded semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.
The case is part of a larger investigation, ‘Operation No Fly Zone,’ designed to address the surge in shootings and homicides plaguing Fresno. Seven Fresno residents have been federally charged as a result of the operation, signaling a coordinated effort to dismantle networks fueling the violence. Details of the other six defendants were not immediately available.
Feaster now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. However, the final sentence will be determined by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba on May 30, 2023, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and any mitigating or aggravating factors presented during the hearing. The guidelines consider a range of variables, meaning the actual time served could differ significantly.
The investigation involved a massive coalition of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Fresno Police Department, and numerous other federal, state, and local entities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca are prosecuting the case.
Federal officials emphasized the case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. It also falls under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency effort targeting high-level criminal organizations. The operation highlights the continued federal focus on disrupting illegal firearms trafficking and holding accountable those who pose a danger to the community.
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