Federal Grand Jury Indicts 20-Year-Old Palestinian Citizen for Firearm Possession

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 20-year-old Palestinian citizen, Sohaib Abuayyash, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The indictment alleges that Abuayyash, an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, knowingly possessed a firearm, specifically identified as a Canik model TP9 Elite SC, 9 mm pistol.

Abuayyash was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on October 19 and is currently detained pending further criminal proceedings. His arraignment is scheduled for November 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho in Houston at 2 p.m.

According to the criminal complaint filed upon his arrest, Abuayyash entered the United States on a nonimmigrant visa that expired in 2019. The charges further allege that he has been in direct contact with individuals sharing a radical mindset and has been involved in physical training and weapons training, possibly with the intent to commit an attack.

If convicted, Sohaib Abuayyash could face a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison, along with a possible fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI is currently leading the investigation into this case.