Saudi Arabian national and UNM engineering student arrested for being an alien in possession of a firearm

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hassan Alqahtani, 28, of Saudi Arabia, made an initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa.

            According to a criminal complaint, Alqahtani allegedly possessed a .380 caliber firearm at his residence when the FBI searched the property on December 12, 2019.  Alqahtani is a citizen of Saudi Arabia.  He was lawfully admitted into the United States on a student visa.  Alqahtani is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.

            Alqahtani is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on December 16.  He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charged offense.  A criminal complaint is only an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

            The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney George Kraehe is prosecuting the case.