FRESNO. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Daniel Battenfield, 40, of Visalia, alleging the unlawful dealing of firearms without a license, making materially false statements to a federal agent, and lying on a federal firearms form.

According to court documents, Battenfield has purchased and resold hundreds of firearms since at least 2016, purchasing the firearms below market price because of his law enforcement status and then reselling them for a profit.

On at least one occasion, he placed an order directly for a customer, lying on a federal firearms form about purchasing the firearm for himself. When confronted by federal agents, he made false statements about his activities. In July 2024, the Sanger Police Department placed Battenfield on leave because of these activities.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Sanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of unlawful dealing in firearms or making false statements to a government agency, Battenfield faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of making materially false statements in the purchase of firearms, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after considering any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider some variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.