A 25-year-old Nigerian man unlawfully present in the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements on required forms while attempting to purchase firearms.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson announced the plea in a Department of Justice press release on December 19, 2025 (noting some reports cite December 10 or 20 due to timing variations).
Court documents reveal that Laurel Echezonam illegally entered the U.S. through the southern border in 2022 and was confirmed by immigration authorities to be a Nigerian national without legal authorization to remain.
Residing in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Echezonam visited multiple firearms dealers on June 7 and 8, 2024, to attempt purchases.
On the mandatory ATF Form 4473, he falsely claimed details about his immigration status to mislead dealers.
The purchases were denied due to his status, leading to his apprehension by immigration officials.
Echezonam entered his guilty plea on December 15, 2025. Sentencing is set for March 17, 2026, where he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
A judge will determine the final sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Murray and C. Brett Grantham.
The announcement highlighted the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice nationwide initiative launched in 2025 to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime by integrating resources from programs like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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