Kyle Man Indicted For Illegally Possessing Weapon

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Kyle man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly possessing an illegally shortened weapon made from a 12-gauge shotgun, which was not registered to him.

Angel Vasquez, age 24, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 20, 2011, for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on January 3, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Vasquez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case. Vasquez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.