A 61-year-old naturalized US citizen who was born and raised in Lebanon before immigrating to the United States in 1986 has been sentenced to one and a half years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle two firearms and ammunition on an international flight.
Ahmad Mohmad Elzein was arrested on July 30, 2023, as he tried to board an American Airlines flight from Charlotte Douglas Airport to Boston, where he was then due to catch a connecting international flight to Beirut, Lebanon.
As Elzein was passing through the TSA security checkpoint in Charlotte, his hand luggage was pulled aside for secondary screening, and officers found $17,500 in currency in his bag.
At this point, Elzein’s checked luggage was also pulled for additional checks, and agents then found a Taurus 9mm pistol concealed in a boot and a .32 caliber revolver duct-taped and concealed inside the liner of Elzein’s suitcase.
Although neither firearm was loaded, agents also found 9mm ammunition wrapped in a plastic baggie and hidden within his suitcase.
Elzein told investigating officers that he had taken possession of the firearms as collateral for a loan to a coworker. His coworker was, however, fired before he could repay the debt, so Elzein decided to take the firearms with him on his trip because he didn’t know what else to do with the guns.
One of the firearms was later discovered to have been reported as stolen.
The court was told that despite having lived in the United States for 37 years, his lack of proficiency in the English language meant that he didn’t fully understand that a previous felony conviction for selling counterfeit Nike sneakers prohibited him from owning firearms.
Elzein was traveling on a one-way ticket to Lebanon, where he was due to visit friends and family, including his daughter, who was having marital problems.
Late last year, Elzein reached a plea agreement with prosecutors where he admitted to a charge of unlawful transportation and shipment of firearms and ammunition. During his sentencing on Wednesday, Elzein was told that following his release from prison, he would also serve two years under court supervision.
