26-Year-Old Nigerien Bags 78-Month Imprisonment in US Over Firearm Charges

A 26-year-old Nigerien national has been sentenced to federal prison on firearms charges related to his residency in the United States, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Following a one-day trial, the jury took approximately one hour to deliberate before reaching guilty verdicts on March 14, 2023, against Moctar Ahmadou Gouroudja Ahmadou.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now mandated that Ahmadou serve a 78-month term in federal prison.

Moreover, Ahmadou is anticipated to forfeit his residency status in the country and undergo removal proceedings subsequent to his incarceration.

During the hearing, the court considered further evidence regarding Ahmadou’s interactions with an individual linked to the attack on Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, his engagement in downloading jihad-related videos, including beheadings, and his discussions about potentially traveling to Palestine for jihad activities.

In delivering the sentence, the court underscored Ahmadou’s breach of the privilege extended to him when he was granted entry to the United States under a student visa for educational purposes.

“Moctar Ahmadou, like thousands every year, traveled to the United States under an F-1 visa in search of American education,” said Hamdani. “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.”

Although Ahmadou was lawfully present in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, he breached the terms of his status by unlawfully using a firearm and ammunition.

Ahmadou arrived in the United States on March 24, 2016, from Niger, holding a nonimmigrant F1 visa, which allowed him to study at North American University in Stafford. As per the conditions of his visa, he was prohibited from possessing or utilizing firearms or ammunition.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: How Israel Strike Killed Iran’s Intelligence Chief in Syria

However, evidence presented to the jury revealed that on or around May 17, 2021, Ahmadou engaged in handling and discharging a handgun at a Texas-based shooting range.

He enrolled in a course named “First Shot,” which provided instruction on pistol shooting techniques and allotted range time. Shortly after completing the course, Ahmadou rented and later purchased a Glock 45. He was observed at the firing line, holding a pistol and aiming towards a target downrange.

On May 18, 2021, Ahmadou revisited the same shooting range to participate in handling and discharging a rifle. The course encompassed instruction on firearms safety, manipulation, and rifle shooting. He also possessed and discharged a Smith & Wesson, model MP15, .223 caliber rifle, and bought four boxes of Fiocchi .223 caliber ammunition for use with the rifle.

Ahmadou has been and will continue to be in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the location of which will be determined shortly.

The FBI spearheaded 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 prosecuted the case in collaboration with Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe from the Justice Department’s Counter Terrorism Section.