A federal grand jury has indicted Mohamed H.M. Zeidan, also known as Sebastian Marcello and Sebastian York, on charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Zeidan, 33, is a native of Palestine.
According to the indictment issued on March 5, 2026, Zeidan was found in possession of a MC9 semi-automatic pistol and a RF-15 semi-automatic rifle on August 3, 2023. Authorities allege that he was present in the United States illegally at the time.
If convicted under Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A), Zeidan faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine that could reach $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized: "An indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. The initiative brings together resources from various agencies within the Department of Justice with the goal to address illegal immigration and combat violent crime by targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation involved cooperation between United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kenner Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice Jr., from the General Crimes Unit, is leading the prosecution.
