Mohamud Abdullahi, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Maine 2023

A Portland man is facing up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mohamud Abdullahi, 31, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in Portland on November 23, 2023.

The charges stem from an incident in which Abdullahi allegedly fired two shots into the air near the intersection of Commercial Street and Cross Street in Portland. The Portland Police Department received reports of the shots fired and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Responding officers recovered two spent 9mm shell casings from the scene and intercepted the vehicle as it crossed the bridge into South Portland.

After a brief attempt to flee, Abdullahi was arrested and the firearm used in the shooting was recovered the next day from the front lawn of a residence near where the vehicle had been stopped.

Abdullahi's previous convictions in Cumberland County Superior Court, including assault and aggravated criminal trespass in 2017 and unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs in 2011, preclude him from possessing firearms. He faces up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release.

The FBI, Portland Police, and South Portland Police investigated the case. Abdullahi's sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Abdullahi's guilty plea means he has admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a crime that is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The FBI and local law enforcement agencies continue to work together to combat gun violence and keep communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/reports-shots-fired-lead-guilty-plea-portland-man-illegal-possession-firearm