ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Hassan Alqahtani, 28, of Saudi Arabia, made an initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa.
According to a criminal complaint, Alqahtani allegedly possessed a.380 caliber firearm at his residence when the FBI searched the property on Dec. 12, 2019. Alqahtani is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. He was lawfully admitted into the United States on a student visa. Alqahtani is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.
Alqahtani is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on December 16. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
