United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Ehab Abdulmutta Jaber, age 46, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Veronica L. Duffy on July 25, 2017, and pled guilty to an Indictment that charged him with Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person.
The maximum penalty for the offense is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jaber was attending an event at the Hilton Garden Inn South in Sioux Falls on April 9, 2017, when security officers noticed him using his phone to take a video of the crowd. As videotaping was not allowed at the venue, security asked Jaber to leave. Jaber went to his vehicle and posted a Facebook live feed in which he pulled firearms out of his vehicle and from his person. He made statements on the feed that law enforcement believed were terroristic threats. Jaber was arrested and five firearms were seized.
Jaber admitted to law enforcement that he was addicted to methamphetamine, which makes it illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law.
The investigation was conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Dennis R. Holmes.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been scheduled for Oct. 16, 2017. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
