In 2008, Tahmooressi joined the US Marines, he served two combat tours in Afghanistan. In 2012, Tahmooressi was honorably discharged but remained a reservist with commitment until 2016.[2][3][4]
Around 10:30 p.m. on March 31, 2014, Tahmooressi crossed the Mexico–United States border in his Ford F-150 truck with three loaded guns.[5] Tahmooressi claims he was driving out of a parking lot with the intention of heading north but instead took a wrong turn[6] and drove into the El Chaparral Port of Entry where Mexican custom inspectors examined his pickup truck and found more than 400 rounds of ammunition and three loaded guns: a .45 caliberpistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and a 5.56mmAR-15 style rifle.[7][8][9]
Tahmooressi was imprisoned in Tijuana'sLa Mesa Prison on illegal gun charges awaiting his trial. He was later moved to El Hongo Prison, Tecate after he attempted escape by climbing over a gate and heading up onto a roof, and then onto another one. He gave up when a guard opened fire, and an incident in which he slashed his neck with a broken light-bulb.[10][11][12][13]
Tahmooressi first appeared in court May 28, 2014, but after Tahmooressi fired his first attorney the night before the hearing, which was postponed as a consequence. [14] Tahmooressi was released from prison on Friday, October 31, 2014 after a judge in Tijuana ordered his immediate release, following pressure that U.S. politicians put on Mexico to release him. Eight months after he was jailed. Tahmooressi flew back the same day in a private jet.[15][16][17]
Tahmooressi was then arrested in Dearborn County, Indiana in the early morning on April 7, 2016, and sentenced to a one-month jail sentence on one count of possession of marijuana under 30 grams.[19][20]
