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The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis, Missouri;

Jose Allen Ramirez has been indicted for illegal possession of firearms in Audrain County, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

Ramirez, 40, Vandalia, MO, was indicted August 19, 2009, on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  According to the indictment, Ramirez was in possession of a firearm in July 2009, in Audrain County.  Due to his previous felony conviction, he is forbidden by law to own or possess a firearm. He appeared for arraignment in federal court today in St. Louis.

If convicted, possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which seeks to prevent violent crime through enforcement of federal firearms laws, such as the law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms.

Reap commended the work on the case by the Ralls County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Assistant United States Attorney Ray Meyer, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.