A 65-year-old man living in Bridgehampton, New York, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for immigration fraud after allegedly concealing his role as a leader and perpetrator in the 1994 Rwandan genocide when applying for refugee status, permanent residency, and U.S. citizenship.
Faustin Nsabumukunzi, a former “Sector Counselor” in Rwanda during the genocide, was arrested Thursday morning on Long Island. He is accused of orchestrating and participating in atrocities that led to the killing of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus during one of the 20th century’s worst mass killings. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert in the Eastern District of New York.
“As alleged, the defendant participated in the commission of heinous acts of violence abroad and then lied his way into a green card and tried to obtain U.S. citizenship,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “No matter how much time has passed, the Department of Justice will find and prosecute individuals who committed atrocities in their home countries and covered them up to gain entry and seek citizenship in the United States.”
According to the indictment, Nsabumukunzi used his authority during the genocide to direct groups of armed Hutu civilians to kill Tutsis, set up deadly roadblocks, and personally participated in killings. A Rwandan court later convicted him in absentia for genocide.
He arrived in the United States in 2003 through the refugee resettlement program, obtained a green card in 2007, and applied for U.S. naturalization in 2009 and again in 2015. In each application, he allegedly denied any involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
“For over two decades, he got away with those lies and lived in the United States with an undeserved clean slate, a luxury that his victims will never have,” said U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York. “Thanks to the tenacious efforts of our investigators and prosecutors, the defendant finally will be held accountable for his brutal actions.”
“This defendant has been living in the United States for decades, hiding his alleged horrific conduct, human rights violations, and his role in these senseless atrocities against innocent Tutsis,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren B. McCormack of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “The depraved conduct of which the defendant is accused represents the worst of humanity.”
Nsabumukunzi has been charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by HSI Long Island with support from the Interagency Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Brian Morgan of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Alessi and Katherine P. Onyshko.
The Department of Justice continues to prioritize accountability for human rights violators hiding in the United States, officials said.
