Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Illegally Possessing Firearms

Louisville, KY - A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on July 17, 2024, charging two Louisville men with illegal possession of firearms. One of the men was also charged with receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Interim Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Hassan Mohamed, 20, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm that had an overall length of less than twenty-six inches, and with a barrel of less than sixteen inches in length. Between March 27, 2024, and April 23, 2024, Mohamed possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, an Aero Precision, model M4E1, 5.56 caliber rifle, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Mohamed was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On April 23, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of complicity to robbery in the first degree (two counts), robbery in the first degree (3 counts), complicity to assault in the first degree, and tampering with physical evidence.

On January 4, 2022, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Mohamed was convicted of robbery in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and criminal attempt rape in the first degree.

According to the indictment, Jrome Fitch, 22, was charged with receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Between April 11, 2024, and March 22, 2024, Fitch possessed a Smith & Wesson, model M&P15-22P, .22 LR AR variant style pistol, a Smith & Wesson, model SD9, 9-millimeter pistol, and ammunition. Fitch was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was under felony indictment for the following offenses.

On March 25, 2022, in Clark Circuit Court, Clark County, Indiana, Fitch was arraigned on an indictment for criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, auto theft, and theft of a firearm (four counts).

The defendants made their initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendants detained pending trial. If convicted, Hassan faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, if he is found to be an Armed Career Criminal, then he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Fitch faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), a collaborative partnership between all levels of law enforcement and prosecutors to reduce violent crime and firearm offenses. On January 23, 2024, Louisville Metro initiated a gun crime reduction initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting illegal firearm possession. The PFP partners include the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jefferson County Attorney's Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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