January 6, 2023 - FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment on Thursday against Emmanuelle Padilla, 26, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.  

According to court documents, Padilla was found in possession of ammunition on October 24, 2022. He has prior felony convictions for possessing controlled substances while armed and being a felon in possession of a firearm and he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Arin C. Heinz is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Padilla 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.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Source: DOJ Release