A 22-year-old Nigerian track athlete based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Godson Oghenebrume, has admitted guilt in a federal case involving unlawful possession of a firearm. Oghenebrume, who entered the United States on a non-immigrant student visa, pleaded guilty to the charge before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the development on December 3, 2025, through U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. The plea followed a months-long investigation stemming from a violent dispute earlier in the year.
Possible Penalties and Immigration Consequences
With his guilty plea now on record, Oghenebrume could face a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and placed under supervised release for as long as three years. Beyond the criminal sentence, federal authorities may initiate deportation proceedings once he completes his time in custody, given his non-immigrant immigration status.
Details of the February 7 Incident
According to federal prosecutors, the charges arose from a confrontation on February 7, 2025, involving Oghenebrume, his former girlfriend, and their infant child. During a heated argument, he fired a gun allegedly to frighten his ex-partner. The dispute intensified when she entered his apartment and found another woman there, prompting the argument to spill outside.
Investigators reported that Oghenebrume discharged the firearm multiple times as tensions escalated. During the altercation, he smashed his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took their baby before law enforcement arrived.
Confrontation With Deputies
When sheriff’s deputies reached the scene, Oghenebrume reportedly walked away, disregarded their commands, and attempted to dispose of the weapon—a Glock 43X 9mm pistol—by tossing it into a nearby shrub. He was taken into custody shortly afterward. During questioning, he acknowledged firing the weapon to intimidate his ex-girlfriend.
Illegal Firearm Possession
Federal law prohibits individuals admitted to the U.S. on certain temporary visas, including F-1 student visas, from possessing firearms. Prosecutors emphasized that Oghenebrume’s status made the possession illegal, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the domestic dispute.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and Lyman E. Thornton III are prosecuting the case.
Part of a National Enforcement Effort
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime, combating illegal immigration, and disrupting transnational criminal networks.
Athletic Background
Oghenebrume enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2021 and is the younger brother of Ese Brume, Nigeria’s Olympic bronze medalist in the long jump. His promising athletic career has now been overshadowed by the legal fallout of the February shooting.
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