A 25-year-old Nigerian man, who was living in the United States without legal authorisation, has admitted guilt in a federal court for providing false information during an attempt to buy a firearm.
Details of the Case and Guilty Plea
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson announced the development. The Department of Justice issued a press statement on Friday, December 10, 2025, detailing the case.
Court records reveal that the individual, Laurel Echezonam, entered the United States unlawfully across the Southern Border in 2022. Immigration authorities later confirmed he was a Nigerian national present in the country without approval.
The Failed Firearm Purchase Attempt
The incident unfolded on June 7 and 8, 2024, when Echezonam travelled from his home in Vicksburg, Mississippi to different firearm dealers with the intention of purchasing a gun.
While completing the mandatory federal firearm transaction form, Echezonam knowingly made false statements concerning his immigration status. His objective was to mislead the dealer into selling him the weapon. However, the sale was denied based on his unlawful status, leading to his subsequent apprehension by immigration officials.
Sentencing and Broader Investigation
Echezonam formally entered his guilty plea on Monday, December 15. He is now scheduled for sentencing on March 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Murray and C. Brett Grantham.
Authorities noted that this prosecution falls under "Operation Take Back America". This is a nationwide Justice Department initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organisations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation coordinates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
