FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Elias Muhammad, 23, of Fresno, charging him with attempted possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court documents, Muhammad was arrested after a vehicle stop on May 5. He was in possession of a firearm and .40 caliber ammunition after having suffered two prior felony convictions. He posted bail on that offense on May 10 and was released from custody.
On June 25, Muhammad was again arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, and for being in violation of his federal supervision resulting from a 2019 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Clovis Police Department, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), and the Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Muhammad faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
