Southern District of California, Firearms Violations, California 2020

The Southern District of California charged 107 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California, the majority of firearms cases were brought against felons who unlawfully possessed firearms. In the last year, however, there was also an increased effort to prosecute individuals who were in possession of firearms in violation of a domestic violence restraining order.

For example, in October 2019, a San Diego Superior Court judge imposed a domestic violence restraining order upon Daniel Anthony Fischbeck. According to the criminal complaint, the restraining order explicitly prohibited Fischbeck from possessing firearms.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California, led by U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer, is committed to reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws. Brewer stated, ‘Each violent crime committed with a gun has a ripple effect that causes an entire community to feel vulnerable and fearful. For that reason, reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws remain top priorities in this district.’

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories, including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense.

For their efforts to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of California is working closely with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute individuals who are in possession of firearms in violation of federal law.

The Southern District of California charged 107 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year 2020. These cases include individuals who were in possession of firearms in violation of a domestic violence restraining order, as well as those who were prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions or other factors.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the majority of firearms cases were brought against felons who unlawfully possessed firearms. In the last year, however, there was also an increased effort to prosecute individuals who were in possession of firearms in violation of a domestic violence restraining order.

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