Ahmed Allam Indicted for Gun Possession Near Texas School

A Brooklyn man is behind bars after being caught with a loaded automatic rifle just steps from a Catholic school in Beaumont, Texas. Ahmed Abdalla Allam, 26, was indicted Feb. 1, 2023, on federal charges for possession of a firearm in a school zone, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. The discovery sent shockwaves through the tight-knit parish community surrounding St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School.

Allam was taken into custody after law enforcement found him in possession of a multi-caliber rifle, a 30-round magazine, and 150 rounds of ammunition. The weapon was recovered within 1,000 feet of the school’s property line—a federal offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Allam appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn and was ordered held pending a detention hearing.

Court documents reveal that the arrest came on Jan. 29, 2023, after multiple concerned citizens flagged suspicious behavior near the campus. Officials from the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, ATF, FBI, and local fire agencies converged on the scene in a coordinated response. No shots were fired, but the proximity of a high-capacity weapon to a schoolyard heightened alarm.

“The community of St. Anthony’s, including parents, teachers, and administrator, are to be commended for remaining vigilant and reporting their suspicions,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “If you see something suspicious – say something. You may save a life.”

The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the DOJ’s nationwide initiative to combat gun violence through targeted enforcement and community engagement. Launched in enhanced form on May 26, 2021, the strategy emphasizes trust-building, violence prevention, and measurable crime reduction across high-risk areas.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation was led by the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County DA’s Office, ATF, FBI, Port Arthur Fire Department, and Montgomery County Fire Marshal. Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross is prosecuting.