Kenyan Man in Iowa Charged with Being in Possession of an Illegal Firearm

A Kenyan man in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was on Thursday charged with being in possession of an illegal firearm, which he is accused of using to threaten passers-by in his neighborhood in August.

40-year-old Kevin O. Naholi pleaded not guilty to the charges before a federal court. He was charged with being in possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, being an undocumented immigrant and having previous domestic violence charges.

U.S. District Chief Magistrate C.J. Williams granted the prosecution its request to keep Naholi in custody pending trial, which begins on November 17th.

A witnesses told police that Naholi threatened people outside his house, 1607 11th Ave. SW, using a .22-caliber gun on August 26th and 27th. Naholi went inside the house and refused to come out when police arrived at the scene.

His wife and son however came out to talk with police, with his son confirming he had a firearm. Attempts by the two to have him come out of the house bore no fruits. It was after more than 11 hours that Cedar Rapids police’s special response unit flushed him out of the home.

Documents filed at the court indicate that Naholi lawfully came to the US in 2003 on a student visa, but it was withdrawn in 2004 after he declined to enroll in school. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and placed in removal proceedings. The proceedings were cancelled in 2016 after he made plans to pursue becoming a naturalized citizen. His request was however declined in June this year.

Naholi had in May, 2008 been convicted of misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury and domestic abuse, before Linn County District Court.

If found guilty, Naholi could face up to 10 years in prison.