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Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements in Attempt to Buy Firearm in the United States

A 25-year-old Nigerian national, unlawfully present in the United States, has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements while attempting to purchase firearms, authorities confirmed.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson, in a press statement issued by the Department of Justice on Friday, December 10, 2025.

According to court documents, Laurel Echezonam entered the United States illegally through the Southern Border in 2022. Immigration authorities determined that he had no legal approval to remain in the country.

On June 7 and June 8, 2024, Echezonam travelled from his residence in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to purchase firearms from two licensed dealers. While completing the federal firearms transaction forms, he made false statements regarding his immigration status in an attempt to deceive the dealers and obtain firearms illegally.

Authorities said that Echezonam was denied the firearms due to his immigration status. He was subsequently apprehended by immigration officials after his attempts were discovered.

Echezonam pleaded guilty on Monday, December 15, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Murray and C. Brett Grantham.

According to the Department of Justice, the prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening law enforcement efforts to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The initiative coordinates resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The DOJ noted that enforcing federal firearms laws is critical to public safety, and that making false statements during a firearms transaction is a serious federal offense with severe consequences.

This case highlights the ongoing risks associated with illegal immigration and the strict enforcement measures designed to prevent firearms from reaching individuals who are ineligible under federal law.

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