DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida

For Immediate Release

Thursday, August 2, 2018
Benjamin G. Greenberg
, United States Attorney
Contact: Sarah J. Schall

Jury Convicts Illegal Alien of Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

A Fort Lauderdale federal jury convicted Mohammed Al-Ghool, 50, of Broward County, yesterday of possessing a firearm and ammunition while being an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. 

Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Diane J. Sabatino, Director, Field Operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami Field Office, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).  Ari C. Shapira, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, and Scott Israel, Sheriff, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement.

According to the court docket, including evidence introduced at trial, Al-Ghool was working at the register in a convenience store crowded with customers on the night of April 13, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Al-Ghool got into a verbal altercation with a co-worker that entered the store.  The verbal fight escalated when Al-Ghool threw merchandise at the co-worker and then produced a firearm.  Al-Ghool shot a round of ammunition from the firearm at the co-worker.  The projectile hit the ceiling tile, directly above his co-worker’s head.  Al-Ghool possessed the firearm and ammunition while being a citizen of a foreign country without valid U.S. identification or immigration documents.

Al-Ghool is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigatory efforts of the CBP, ICE-HSI, ATF and BSO in this matter.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Don Chase.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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Miami Field Division