Illegal Alien from Uzbekistan Indicted for Threatening to Kill the President and Possessing Machine Gun and Grenades

BIRMINGHAM—A federal grand jury today indicted an Uzbek national for threatening the life of President Barack Obama and illegally possessing weapons.

The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance; FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Patrick J. Maley; Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Roy Sexton; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr.; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Glenn N. Anderson.

The indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges ULUGBEK KODIROV, 21, of Uzbekistan, with four counts of threatening the president—on July 9, July 10, July 11, and July 13. Count five charges Kodirov with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, and count six charges him with unlawfully possessing a fully automatic weapon. Both of those counts refer to a Sendra Corporation Model M15-A1 rifle.

Count seven of the indictment charges Kodirov with receiving and possessing an unregistered grenade on July 13.

“Federal and local law enforcement agencies effectively coordinated to investigate a threat, which resulted in the arrest of Kodirov, who was charged by the grand jury this afternoon with repeatedly threatening to kill the president of the United States and with possessing grenades and an M15 machine gun,” U.S. Attorney Vance said.

“I commend the FBI, Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Leeds and Pelham police Departments, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and all members of the Northern District of Alabama’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their outstanding work,” she said.

“Protective intelligence is a crucial part of the Secret Service’s mission,” Secret Service SAC Sexton said. “This case illustrates our protective methodologies, which are proactive and preventive. We are constantly engaged with partners throughout the law enforcement community in order to keep the overall security picture in focus and to stay ahead of any emerging threats.”

“I am particularly proud of the way all of the federal, state and local agencies came together to address this threat,” FBI SAC Maley said. “This case is just another outstanding example of information sharing and collaborative investigation working to serve the public’s interest. That collaboration involved local members of the district’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Federal Air Marshals, the Shelby County and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices, and the Hoover, UAB and Birmingham Police Departments,” he said.

Parmer, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in New Orleans, applauded the collaboration and coordination among law enforcement agencies that led to Kodirov’s arrest. “We are dedicated to apprehending and getting off the streets those individuals who are the most dangerous in our communities,” he said.

“When our law enforcement agencies work in concert and bring to bear our varied and unique areas of expertise, the danger to the American public can be minimized,” ATF SAC Anderson said. “This case is a perfect example of the sense of cooperation that exists between agencies when there is a threat to our security.”

Kodirov was arrested July 13 at a motel in Leeds after he procured the machine gun from an undercover agent, according to the arrest complaint and supporting affidavit, which were filed July 14. He was arrested on a charge of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Kodirov came to the United States in June 2009 and remained in the country on a student visa. His student visa was revoked April 1, 2010, for failure to enroll in school, according to the arrest affidavit.

At the time of Kodirov’s arrest, he was living at an extended-stay motel in Pelham.

Kodirov faces maximum prison penalties of five years on each count of threatening the president, and 10 years on each of the weapons counts.

U.S. Attorney Vance and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Whisonant and Ryan Buchanan are prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.