A previously convicted Nigerian, Samuel Fapohunda, has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to illegally possessing a loaded Glock 19 pistol and ammunition.

The Department of Justice said in a statement on Thursday that Mr Fapohunda pleaded guilty.

Mr Fapohunda, a 27-year-old resident of Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon before district judge Trevor McFadden.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026.

He was arrested on June 25, 2026, after officers on patrol in southeast Washington, D.C., approached his car, which was parked and had an illegally tinted window.

Federal prosecutors said Mr Fapohunda admitted he had been smoking when officers detected the smell of marijuana after he rolled down his window.

After passengers were ordered out of the car, a burnt marijuana cigarette was seen in his hand. Officers then conducted a pat-down of the Nigerian and felt a firearm in his waistband.

“Before officers recovered it, Fapohunda blurted out, ‘it’s under my shorts,’ repeating the phrase three times,” prosecutors said. “Officers recovered a loaded Glock 19 9mm handgun with a 17-round magazine.”

During a search of the vehicle, officers also uncovered a nearly full bottle of codeine-based cough syrup, drug paraphernalia, including a scale and baggies with residue, and $985 in cash.

Prosecutors added that criminal history checks showed he had previously been convicted of robbery in Arlington County, Virginia, and jailed for five years, “with four years suspended, making his possession of the firearm and ammunition illegal under federal law”.