DOJ: Former Sanger Police Officer indicted for illegal firearms dealing

SANGER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A national expansive assemblage returned a three-count indictment connected Thursday against a erstwhile Sanger Police Officer from Visalia who had allegedly purchased and resold hundreds of firearms since astatine slightest 2016.

Officials accidental 40-year-old Daniel Battenfield purchased the firearms beneath marketplace terms due to the fact that of his instrumentality enforcement presumption and past resold them for a profit.

On astatine slightest 1 occasion, the DOJ says helium placed an bid straight for a customer, lying connected a national firearms signifier astir purchasing the firearm for himself. When confronted by national agents, officials accidental helium made mendacious statements to them astir his activities.

Battenfield was placed connected permission by the Sanger Police Department pursuing the allegations successful July 2024.

The DOJ says, that if convicted of unlawful dealing successful firearms oregon making mendacious statements to a authorities agency, Battenfield faces a maximum statutory punishment of 5 years successful situation and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of making materially mendacious statements successful the acquisition of firearms, helium faces a maximum of 10 years successful situation and a good of up to $250,000.