A 26-year-old citizen of Niger has been sentenced to federal prison for violating U.S. gun laws, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Moctar Ahmadou Gouroudja Ahmadou, who entered the United States on a nonimmigrant F1 visa, was found guilty and will serve 78 months in federal prison. Additionally, he is expected to lose his status in the country and face removal proceedings after serving his sentence.
Ahmadou’s trial lasted only one day, with the jury deliberating for approximately one hour before returning guilty verdicts on March 14, 2023. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett issued the sentence, taking into consideration additional evidence presented during the hearing. This evidence included Ahmadou’s discussions with an individual linked to the attack on Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, his downloading of jihad videos containing beheadings, and his discussions about potentially traveling to Palestine for jihad.
Ahmadou, who entered the United States from Niger in 2016 to study at the North American University, violated the terms of his nonimmigrant visa by illegally using a firearm and ammunition. Under his student visa status, Ahmadou was prohibited from possessing or using firearms or ammunition.
The court heard that on or around May 17, 2021, Ahmadou participated in handling and firing a handgun at a Texas-based gun range. He completed a course called First Shot which provided training on pistol shooting and range time. Shortly after finishing the course, Ahmadou rented a Glock 45 and was observed at the firing line holding the pistol and shooting towards a target.
The following day, May 18, 2021, Ahmadou returned to the same gun range, this time to handle and fire a rifle. He underwent a course on firearms safety, manipulation, and rifle shooting. He possessed and shot a Smith & Wesson, model MP15, .223 caliber rifle and purchased four boxes of Fiocchi .223 caliber ammunition, which he used in conjunction with the rifle.
Throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case, multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated to gather evidence. The FBI led the investigation, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Customs and Immigration Service; and Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Richard Bennett, along with Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe from the Justice Department’s Counter Terrorism Section, prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Hamdani emphasized the message this sentencing sends to others who may be in similar situations. He stated, Moctar Ahmadou, like thousands every year, traveled to the United States under an F-1 visa in search of an American education. But when he took that quest for knowledge to a gun range, picked up a gun, handled the ammo and fired it, he went from student to criminal. This sentence sends a strong message to those like Ahmadou – stay in the classroom and away from the gun range; otherwise, your American education will come not from a University but from the prison library.
Ahmadou will remain in custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future.
