Nigerian Citizen Arrested For Federal Firearms Violation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Special Agent in Charge James Cavanaugh of the Nashville Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Attorney James K. Vines for the Middle District of Tennessee announced the arrest of Akanonu Fabian Mgbobila, 56 a native of Nigeria on a federal firearms violation. Mgbobila appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Brown for violating Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 922(g)(5)(B) - unlawful possession of a firearm by a non-immigrant alien. Mgbobila does possess a valid visitor visa. Under federal law non-immigrant aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition except for certain limited circumstances specified by statute. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in federal prison, up to a $250,000 fine and a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system. According to information contained in a criminal complaint outlining the charge, Mgbobila arrived by bus from Boston to Nashville on July 19, 2006. Mgbobila negotiated the purchase of 30 firearms from an undercover law enforcement agent for $150 each, to be paid the following morning. After the negotiations, the undercover agent and Mgbobila wrapped and packaged the firearms. After the firearms were wrapped and packaged, Mgbobila was arrested by ATF without incident. The combined local, state and federal law enforcement effort in this case blocked an alien from getting firearms he was not allowed to possess, stated Cavanaugh. The arrest is the result of investigative efforts of ATF, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigative Division, Cumberland County Sheriffs Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Mgbobila is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals service in lieu of detention hearing scheduled for July 26, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.