Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that his office charged a Kane County man with forgery and falsifying information on a Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card application submitted to the Illinois State Police (ISP).
The Attorney General’s office charged Juan Jose Jaime Ramirez, 49, of Aurora, Illinois, in Kane County Circuit Court with two counts of unlawful violation of the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison; and two counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Ramirez’s next court appearance is Sept. 26.
“Protecting communities from gun violence includes ensuring individuals who possess firearms have obtained them in accordance with state law,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with the Illinois State Police to prosecute individuals who lie on FOID card applications.”
Raoul’s office alleges that in October 2023 Ramirez failed to disclose he had been previously convicted of a felony when applying for his FOID card, forged the application and delivered it to the ISP. Individuals convicted of felonies are prohibited from owning firearms in Illinois.
“ISP is charged with ensuring those who are legally prohibited from having a firearm do not obtain a Firearms Owner Identification Card,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Individuals who attempt to obtain a card by lying on an application should know we will investigate, and they will face the consequences.”
In addition to prosecuting individuals who lie on FOID card applications, the Attorney General’s office works with state law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to increase awareness of Illinois’ red flag law, and to address gaps in Illinois’ firearms licensing system.
The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant Attorney General Steven Knight is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau.
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