Raleigh Man Convicted of Being a Felon In Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Raleigh man Tuesday on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Mohamed Magi Abusnena, 24, was indicted on July 21, 2021, for having been previously convicted of a felony and being in possession of a 9 mm, Glock, semi-automatic pistol, and ammunition.

Evidence presented at the trial revealed that on April 19, 2020, patrol officers from the Raleigh Police Department were in the vicinity of Durant Road Elementary School, when officers heard approximately eight-to-twelve-gun shots fired very rapidly. Officers began to canvas the nearby neighborhoods and streets where they believed to have heard the gun shots.

While canvasing the area, officers heard two more-gun shots coming from the main entrance of Abbotts Creek Elementary. Officers observed a vehicle make a rapid U-turn at the entrance of the school and drive away towards Durant Road. Officers caught up with the vehicle as it pulled into the driveway of Abusnena’s residence.

Officers were able to detain Abusnena after an argument. Abusnena was searched incident to arrest and a loaded Glock magazine was located in his right front pocket. Officers located several spent 9mm shell casing inside the vehicle on the front floor-board and rear floorboard. A Glock 19 semiautomatic firearm was found underneath the front passenger floorboard. The firearm was loaded with 9mm ammunition.

In a unanimous decision the jury found Abusnena guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Abusnena faces maximum penalties of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, when scheduled for sentencing for the term of court commencing on March 22, 2022.

Michael F. Easley, Jr, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Raleigh Police Department, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori B. Warlick, and Deputy Criminal Chief Jason Kellhofer prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:20-CR-00301-1M