FRESNO  -  A federal indictment was unsealed today that charges Jesus “Shotgun” Paniagua, 37, of Bakersfield, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and failing to register a firearm in the National Firearms Registry, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On Dec. 19, 2019, a federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment. According to court documents, on Oct. 4, Paniagua, a previously convicted felon, was found in possession of an unregistered 20 gauge shotgun that was less than 26 inches long in violation of federal law.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Yim is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Paniagua faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.