Godson Oghenebrume, a 22-year-old Nigerian track and field athlete based in the United States, has entered a guilty plea for illegally possessing a firearm while on a non-immigrant visa. The plea was entered before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Charges and Potential Sentence
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced the development in a Department of Justice statement dated December 3, 2025. As a consequence of his guilty plea, Oghenebrume now confronts severe penalties.
He could be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. Additionally, he faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release lasting up to three years. Upon completing any prison sentence, he may also be subject to removal or deportation from the United States.
Details of the February Incident
The charges stem from a violent incident that occurred on the night of February 7, 2025. According to the DOJ statement, Oghenebrume was in his apartment with another woman when his ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived with the baby.
An argument erupted outside the apartment. During this confrontation, and while the child was present, Oghenebrume discharged a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol. He then returned inside his apartment.
The situation escalated when his ex-girlfriend entered the apartment, saw the other woman, and the argument resumed. As the dispute moved back outside and the child's mother fled, Oghenebrume fired the weapon multiple more times. Investigators later found multiple bullet strikes in the walls of the apartment complex.
Oghenebrume subsequently smashed his ex-girlfriend's phone and took the baby. The other woman present eventually helped retrieve the child from him.
Arrest and Investigation
When deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene, Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring commands. He discarded the pistol into some shrubs before being detained. A neighbor confirmed hearing the gunshots and reported that his ears were ringing.
In a post-arrest interview, Oghenebrume admitted to detectives that he fired the gun to scare his ex-girlfriend away and make her go home.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted as part of the nationwide "Operation Take Back America" initiative.
Godson Oghenebrume, who is the brother of Olympic bronze medalist Ese Brume, was admitted to Louisiana State University in 2021 on an F-1 student visa.
