Portland Felon Abdullahi Gets 75 Months for Gun Possession

PORTLAND, Maine – A brazen display of recklessness landed 32-year-old Mohamud Abdullahi of Portland a hefty 75-month federal prison sentence today. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen delivered the punishment for Abdullahi’s illegal possession of a firearm, a charge stemming from a November 2023 shooting in the city’s Old Port district.

The incident unfolded on November 23, 2023, near the bustling intersection of Commercial and Cross streets. Portland Police Department received frantic calls reporting shots fired. Witnesses described Abdullahi allegedly brandishing a firearm, discharging two rounds into the air, and then fleeing in a vehicle. Security camera footage quickly corroborated the accounts, offering a clear picture of the suspect and his vehicle. The quick response from law enforcement led to the recovery of two spent 9mm shell casings at the scene.

Abdullahi’s attempt to evade capture was short-lived. South Portland police intercepted the vehicle as it crossed the Casco Bay Bridge. A brief pursuit ended with Abdullahi’s arrest, but the weapon remained elusive – for a day. The firearm used in the shooting was ultimately recovered from a front lawn near the location where the vehicle was stopped, solidifying the evidence against him.

Abdullahi wasn’t just facing charges for the shooting itself; his criminal history slammed the door on legal gun ownership. Prior convictions for assault and aggravated criminal trespass in 2017, coupled with a 2011 conviction for unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, legally barred him from possessing any firearms. He pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024, acknowledging his unlawful possession.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI, Portland Police Department, and South Portland Police Department, demonstrating a unified front against gun violence in the region. Following the sentence, Judge Torresen ordered three years of supervised release to follow Abdullahi’s prison term.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. PSN prioritizes building trust, supporting community-based violence prevention efforts, and strategically focusing enforcement. More information on Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.