United States of America v. Godson Oghenebrume

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with unlawful transportation of a firearm.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

Godson Oghenebrume, age 23, a Nigerian national residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa.

Oghenebrume was in his apartment when an ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived at the apartment with the baby. Oghenebrume, who had been in the apartment with another young woman, went outside, and an argument ensued between him and the mother of his child. During this argument, and while the baby was present, Oghenebrume discharged the firearm.

Oghenebrume went back into his apartment. Sometime thereafter, Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend opened his apartment door and observed Oghenebrume and the other young woman in the living room, and she and Oghenebrume began to argue. That argument spilled out of the apartment, and Oghenebrume discharged the firearm more times as the mother of his child fled. Multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex.

Oghenebrume smashed his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took the baby, who had been present throughout the incident. Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend then approached the other woman, who was attempting to leave, and asked her for help getting the baby. She agreed to help and was able to get the child from Oghenebrume.

When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring their commands, and discarded the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some shrubs. Oghenebrume was detained soon thereafter. Deputies spoke to Oghenebrume’s neighbor, who confirmed hearing shots and stated his ears had been ringing.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.