Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume has been sentenced to 27 months in a United States federal prison after being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm while in the country on an F-1 student visa.
The 23-year-old athlete was sentenced by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition to the prison term, authorities said Oghenebrume will be removed from the United States after completing his sentence.
According to United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall, the offence occurred on February 7, 2025, when Oghenebrume was found in possession of a Glock 43X 9mm pistol, despite restrictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm under the terms of his non-immigrant student visa.
Court records showed that the incident took place at Oghenebrume’s apartment complex in Baton Rouge after his former girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, visited the residence with the baby.
Investigators said an argument broke out outside the apartment while another woman was inside with Oghenebrume. During the confrontation, he allegedly fired the handgun several times while the child was nearby.
The dispute reportedly continued after his former girlfriend opened the apartment door. As she fled the scene, Oghenebrume allegedly discharged the firearm again.
Authorities later discovered multiple bullet impacts on the walls of the apartment complex. Court documents also stated that Oghenebrume damaged his former girlfriend’s mobile phone and briefly took custody of their infant before another woman intervened and returned the child to the mother.
When deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office arrived, Oghenebrume allegedly ignored officers’ instructions, walked away from the scene and threw the pistol into nearby bushes before he was eventually taken into custody.
During a post-Miranda interview with investigators, Oghenebrume admitted firing the weapon, saying he intended to frighten his former girlfriend.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Leave a Reply