An Egyptian citizen has pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges following an incident at a Las Cruces gas station in which he threatened another individual with a handgun.
According to court documents, on May 12, 2025, Moustafa Mahmoud Abdelnabi Salem pulled out a handgun, chambered a round, and pointed it at the victim. The victim reported the assault to an officer from the Las Cruces Police Department after flagging him down at the scene.
When questioned by police, Salem claimed that the victim had assaulted him with a large knife and denied using a firearm against the individual. He also refused to let the officer retrieve the gun from his vehicle, raising concerns about the legality of his possession of the weapon.
Further investigation revealed that Salem was unlawfully present in the United States after overstaying his visitor visa. CCTV footage from the gas station showed that Salem appeared to be the aggressor during the incident.
Salem entered a guilty plea for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He now faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon release, he will be subject to deportation as an aggravated felon.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.”
The case was investigated by agents from both federal and local law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations El Paso and officers from Las Cruces Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin is prosecuting.
