A Native of Iraq and Citizen of the Netherlands Was Sentenced to 5 Years In Federal Prison for Possessing Firearms and Ammunition Unlawfully

DETROIT – A native of Iraq and citizen of the Netherlands, who has prior criminal arrests for Assault and Battery, Domestic Violence, Drug Possession, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Larceny, was sentenced this week to 5 years in federal prison for being an unlawful alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, announced United State Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Chief Patrol Agent Robert Danley, United States Border Patrol, Detroit Sector.

Sentenced was Vires Al-Hakiem, age 43.  Al-Hakiem was sentenced in federal court in Detroit on May 31 before United States District Judge Laurie Michelson.

According to court records, in June 2021, Al-Hakiem sent a text message containing a video to his then spouse threatening her with a gun.  A subsequent search of Al-Hakiem’s bedroom found six firearms, 34 handgun magazines (7 of which were high capacity), 53 long-gun magazines (4 with extended capacity for ammunition) and over 2,600 rounds of ammunition. Al-Hakiem has prior criminal arrests for Assault and Battery, Domestic Violence, Drug Possession, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Larceny.  In January 2023, Al-Hakiem pleaded guilty in federal court to being an unlawful alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Al-Hakiem will be deported to the Netherlands when his sentence is finished.

“Our office is dedicated to enforcing our immigration laws.  This defendant who  already had a lengthy criminal history was both illegally present in the United States and illegally possessed  a large number of guns and ammunition. “Today’s sentence makes our community safer,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison.  

“Protecting our Nation’s borders goes beyond patrolling an imaginary line on the ground or water, as this case clearly shows.  The United States Border Patrol is dedicated to protecting all our communities from dangerous people such as this, and I’m proud of our Detroit Sector agents and their task force partners for the great work that made this conviction possible,” said Chief Patrol Agent Danley. 

This case was investigated by agents of the Border Patrol with the assistance of the FBI Macomb County Gang and Violent crime task force.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Fairchild.