SACRAMENTO, CA—A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment today against Frank Gowans III, 26, of Suisun City, charging him with felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, Gowans was arrested by Vallejo police officers on October 12, 2014. The officers had observed Gowans walking with a black object in his hand. When the officers approached, Gowans discarded the object. An officer went to the area where Gowans had discarded the object and found a 9 mm handgun. Gowans was on parole at the time of arrest and is a convicted felon.

This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the Vallejo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Olusere Olowoyeye is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Gowans faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 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.