Sohaib Abuayyash was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The FBI said he has been in direct contact with others who share a radical mindset.
HOUSTON — The FBI confirmed Friday that it had arrested a Jordanian citizen, seeking asylum in the United States, on federal gun charges following a months-long multi-agency investigation into social media videos involving firearms and shooting ranges in the Houston area.
A federal criminal complaint, unsealed Friday, alleges that Abuayyash came to law enforcement's attention in the summer of 2023 after posting social media videos of himself firing guns, including an 'AR-style' rifle and handguns. The videos, posted on TikTok as well as Instagram, prompted a wider investigation and led agents to a pair of Houston-area gun ranges.
The FBI says its investigation revealed that Abuayyash traveled to the U.S. twice -- between 2016 and 2019 -- before eventually overstaying a tourist visa and living illegally in the U.S. for several months. During the second trip, he entered the country using a Palestinian passport, and according to investigators, he later applied for asylum status, which according to court records is still pending.
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