An Oxnard man was arrested today by members of the Ventura County Violent Gang Task Force on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Pedro Garcia, also known as “Maniac,” 27, a known member of the Colonia Chiques street gang, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles for illegally possessing a .38 special revolver and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of a felony. Garcia is scheduled to be in federal court for an initial appearance this afternoon.

Garcia had been convicted of various violations of the California Penal Code and the Health and Safety Code, including assault with a deadly weapon, battery with criminal street gang activity, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and evading a police officer, among other offenses.

It is unlawful for a person convicted of a felony to ship, transport, receive, or possess a firearm or ammunition. If convicted, Garcia would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

The Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force is made up of agencies including the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ventura Police Department.

The case against Garcia will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.