An Ohio man who’s suspected of orchestrating mass killings throughout the 1994 genocide in Rwanda has been arrested for allegedly mendacity on his US immigration papers to hide his heinous crimes.
Vincent Nzigiyimfura, 65, was nabbed in Dayton on June 12 after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on one rely of visa fraud and two counts of tried naturalization fraud, in keeping with the US Division of Justice.
“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiumfura directed and inspired murders throughout the genocide in Rwanda after which lied to US authorities to start out a brand new life on this nation,” The pinnacle of the Division of Justice’s Legal Division, Matthew Galeotti, mentioned.
“The USA shouldn’t be a protected haven for human rights violators. These, just like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to cover their violent pasts will likely be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation.”
Nzigiyimfura, also called Vincent Mfura, is accused of enjoying a significant function throughout the bloody genocide in opposition to the Tutsis in Rwanda, perpetrated by the Hutus between April and July 1994 whereas working as a businessman and butcher.
Officers alleged Nzigiyimfura helped direct and set up the killing of Tutsis whereas offering the Hutus with weapons and transportation to commit their mass murders.
Nzigiyimfura allegedly organized roadblocks within the mountainous terrain of Rwanda’s Southern Province to entice fleeing Tutsis to be killed.
He additionally allegedly “devised a scheme to trick Tutsis in hiding to imagine that the killings had stopped, solely to have them rounded up and murdered,” in keeping with the DOJ.
When the Rwandan Patriotic Entrance (RPF) took army management of the nation in mid-July 1994, ending the three-month-long bloody genocide, wherein an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and reasonable Hutus had been killed, Nzigiyimfura fled to Malawi.
Round 2008, the alleged orchestrator of mass murderers submitted purposes for an immigrant visa to the US, the place officers declare he falsified paperwork to painting himself as a sufferer who “left Rwanda in 1994 because of the Genocide.”
Nzigiyimfura was made conscious he could possibly be topic to legal prosecution for mendacity on his utility, however reassured a US Consular Officer of his story and was granted a visa to enter the US in 2009.
Later in 2014, Nzigiyimfura allegedly doubled down on his alleged misinform change into a US citizen.
Throughout an interview with a US Citizenship and Immigration Providers officer that November, he “verbally reaffirmed these false statements, in addition to others,” in keeping with the DOJ.
Nonetheless, he was not granted citizenship.
The accused human rights violator utilized and submitted supporting documentation to resume his expiring inexperienced card in 2018. A 12 months later, he was issued a “fraudulently” obtained inexperienced card good for one more 10 years.
He later used that inexperienced card to use for an Ohio driver’s license, in keeping with officers.
His case has been investigated by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Safety Investigations Cincinnati discipline workplace with help from the Human Rights Violators and Warfare Crimes Middle.
“ICE HSI is dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of genocide by guaranteeing that those that dedicated atrocities in overseas lands can’t conceal in Ohio or every other neighborhood in the US,” Appearing ICE Homeland Safety Investigations Detroit Particular Agent in Cost Jared Murphey mentioned in a press launch.
“Nobody needs a conflict legal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim image of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi individuals. His indictment and arrest is a step towards justice for these victims.”
Nzigiyimfura faces 30 years in federal jail if convicted.
