A 23-year-old Nigerian sprinter and former LSU athlete, Godson Oghenebrume, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison in the United States for illegally possessing a firearm while on a student visa.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall in a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on June 30, 2026.
Oghenebrume, who lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a non-immigrant visa holder. In addition to his prison term, he is expected to face deportation after completing his sentence.
According to court documents, Oghenebrume admitted to possessing a Glock 43X 9mm pistol on February 7, 2025, while residing in the United States on an F-1 student visa.
The incident stemmed from a domestic dispute at his apartment. His former girlfriend, who is also the mother of their infant child, arrived at the residence with the baby while Oghenebrume was inside with another woman. After stepping outside, an argument broke out between the pair, during which Oghenebrume allegedly fired the weapon while the child was present.
The confrontation continued after both parties returned to the apartment. When the argument resumed outside, authorities said Oghenebrume fired several more rounds as his ex-girlfriend fled the scene. Investigators later found multiple bullet holes in the walls of the apartment complex.
Prosecutors also said Oghenebrume damaged his ex-girlfriend's phone and took custody of the baby following the shooting. The other woman at the apartment later intervened and successfully retrieved the child before police arrived.
When deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office responded, Oghenebrume allegedly ignored their commands, walked away, and threw the Glock pistol into nearby bushes before he was apprehended.
Investigators said a neighbour confirmed hearing gunfire and reported that the shots were loud enough to leave his ears ringing.
During a post-Miranda interview, Oghenebrume admitted firing the weapon, telling detectives he intended to frighten his ex-girlfriend into leaving.
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall commended the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office for their roles in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy S. Johnson and Lyman E. Thornton III prosecuted the case.
The prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime across the United States.If you want this in a shorter, news-style format suitable for publication, I can also condense it further.
