Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a Christian County man was arraigned after the Attorney General’s office alleged he falsified information on the FOID card application he submitted to the Illinois State Police (ISP).
Attorney General Raoul charged Patrick S. Nichols, 60, of Taylorville, Illinois with two counts of violating the Firearm Owner’s Identification Card Act, Class 2 felonies punishable by up to three to seven years in prison, and two counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies punishable by up to two to five years in prison. Nichols has pleaded not guilty, and his bond was set at $10,000.
“Individuals who skirt Illinois law to obtain firearms they are not legally able to possess need to be held accountable,” Raoul said. “I will continue partnering with the Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies across the state to work to reduce gun violence by making sure firearms do not get into the hands of those who should not legally have them.”
Raoul’s indictment alleges Nichols knowingly entered false information on a FOID card application by failing to disclose a prior felony conviction. Nichols was previously convicted of a crime against nature out of the state of North Carolina. Illinois law prohibits individuals who have been convicted of a felony from being eligible for FOID cards.
The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorneys General Steven Knight and Heidi Epperson are prosecuting the case for Raoul’s office.
Source: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2022_07/20220701.html