SACRAMENTO — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Ismael Huazo-Jardinez, 33, a Mexican citizen residing in Yuba City, charging him with two counts of possessing a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott announced.

Huazo-Jardinez was allegedly drunk when he lost control of his vehicle and smashed into a house trailer just north of Knights Landing in Sutter County, killing three family members in their sleep on May 4.

Killed were Jose Alberto Pacheco, 38, Anna Grisalda Pacheco, 34 and their 10-year-old son Angel Alberto Pacheco-Espinoza. The Pachecos’ 11-year-old daughter survived.

According to the CHP, Huazo-Jardinez was speeding northbound in a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche and missed a 90-degree “S” curve on Highway 113 and hit the family’s trailer near Jennings Court.

Jennings Court is located about a half-mile north of the Yolo-Sutter County line where Hwy. 113 crosses the Sacramento River.

Huazo-Jardinez was arrested at the scene and hospitalized with moderate injuries, then booked into Sutter County Jail on suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. There were reports he was beaten by private citizens who responded to the scene to be of assistance.

Authorities impounded the vehicle, a Chevrolet Avalanche registered to Huazo-Jardinez, and later recovered a handgun from the vehicle’s center console. A database query revealed that the handgun had been reported stolen in Boise, Idaho.

According to court documents, a Beretta handgun was found during a search of Huazo-Jardinez’s residence. Huazo-Jardinez is alleged to be a citizen and national of Mexico who has twice been removed from the United States and has not been granted permission to return.

As an alien unlawfully in the United States, Huazo-Jardinez is prohibited by federal statute from possessing a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Huazo-Jardinez in the state case.

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California family in trailer killed by crash; driver reportedly beaten by neighbors The federal charges are being brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department of Justice’s focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

If convicted, Huazo-Jardinez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.