FRESNO -  A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging David Garcia, 32, of Fresno, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, on Jan. 23, 2025, law enforcement officers located a vehicle suspected in several recent catalytic converter thefts. When they attempted to stop the car, the driver, Garcia, sped off across an apartment complex lawn before leading officers on a high-speed chase.

He drove the wrong way on the road, collided with another vehicle, and ran multiple red lights and stop signs. In an attempt to escape officers, Garcia tried to drive through a fence into Scandinavian Middle School, but his vehicle was disabled. Garcia is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County.

According to court documents, officers found a loaded Glock 22 handgun with an extended magazine in Garcia’s vehicle. The handgun and vehicle were both reported stolen.

If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 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.