The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has charged a Waukegan man for allegedly forging and falsifying information on a Firearm Owner Identification Card application submitted to the Illinois State Police.
Edwin Lara, 34, was charged in Lake County Circuit Court with two class two felony counts of unlawful violation of the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act and two class 3 felony counts of forgery, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday.
If found guilty at trial of the two most serious charges, Lara could be sentenced to 7 years in prison, authorities said. The forgery counts could put him behind bars for up to five years.
Lara failed to disclose he had been previously convicted of a felony when applying for his FOID card, forged the application, and delivered it to state police in November of 2022, authorities said.
“Individuals who knowingly falsify information in order to obtain a firearm break the law and need to be held accountable,” Illinois Attorney General Kwami Raoul said. “I will continue to work with the Illinois State Police to prosecute anyone who lies on a FOID card application.”
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, authorities said.
“It is critical to stop prohibited persons from criminally obtaining a firearm,” said Brendan F. Kelly, Director of the Illinois State Police. “ISP will continue to work closely with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate individuals who lie on FOID card applications and protect the integrity of the process.”
Lara is due back in court Aug. 7.
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