DOJ says man pointed a gun at a victim at a Las Cruces gas station; faces up to 15 years in prison.

Organ Mountain News report

ALBUQUERQUE - A man identified by federal prosecutors as Moustafa Mahmoud Abdelnabi Salem pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses after pointing a handgun at a victim at a Las Cruces gas station on May 12, 2025, according to court documents.

Incident and plea

Prosecutors say Salem pulled a handgun, chambered a round and pointed it at the victim. The victim flagged down a Las Cruces police officer and reported the assault. Salem told the officer the victim had threatened him with a knife and denied pointing the gun, but refused to allow retrieval of the firearm from his vehicle, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Investigators later determined Salem had overstayed a visitor visa and was “illegally or unlawfully” in the United States, prosecutors said. CCTV from the gas station appeared to show Salem as the aggressor.

Salem pleaded guilty to being illegally or unlawfully in the United States in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Potential sentence and next steps

At sentencing, Salem faces up to 15 years in prison. After any prison term, he would be subject to deportation as an aggravated felon, according to the Justice Department.

Agencies involved

The FBI’s Las Cruces Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin is prosecuting.