Illegal Nigerian immigrant pleads guilty to making false statements in U.S. firearm purchase
An illegal Nigerian immigrant in the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements while attempting to purchase a firearm, in a case that highlights strict U.S. laws on gun purchases and immigration status. Laurel Echezonam, 25, admitted in the Southern District of Mississippi that he lied about his immigration status on federal firearms purchase forms to try to obtain guns from licensed dealers in June 2024. Federal law prohibits individuals who are unlawfully present in the country from purchasing or possessing firearms, and misrepresenting one’s status on required forms is a federal offence. During the attempts, Echezonam travelled from his home in Vicksburg, Mississippi to multiple firearms dealers, but was denied the firearms once his immigration status was discovered. He was subsequently apprehended by U.S. immigration officials and later charged in federal court. The plea was entered on December 15, 2025, and under U.S. sentencing guidelines he faces a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison, with a sentencing date set for March 17, 2026. The case is being pursued under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at enforcing immigration and violent crime laws, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. After sentencing, Echezonam is also likely to face deportation proceedings due to his unlawful presence and conviction.
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