Three Cameroonian-Americans face 38 years in prison for sponsoring violence in Cameroon

Three American citizens of Cameroonian origin face a 38-year prison sentence after being indicted for supporting violence in Cameroon.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday the arrest and first court appearance of Messrs. Claude Chi, 40; Francois Chenyi, 49 years old; Lah Langmi, 46 years old.

“Three defendants were arrested today and made their first appearances in court on an indictment, unsealed today,” the statement read.

He noted that they are charged for their role in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a conspiracy to kidnap people and use weapons of mass destruction in a foreign country.

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“If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison for material support charges, up to three years in prison for receiving money from a ransom demand and up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy charge,” the US DOJ said.

They are charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri on November 18.

“The federal indictment alleges that Messrs. Chi, Chenyi and Langmi supported and raised funds for separatist fighters in Cameroon since January 1, 2018. As alleged, they each held high-level positions within an organization that supported and led the militant separatist group known as the Ambazonian Restoration Forces and other separatist fighters in the North West region of Cameroon,” the US said. /p> Funds raised and how?

According to the indictment, they allegedly solicited and raised funds for the purchase of equipment, supplies, weapons and explosives to be used in attacks against the Cameroonian government and its cronies.< /p>

Commenting on how the funds were raised, he said "through online chat apps and payment platforms from people in the United States and abroad".

And transferred from various financial and cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the defendants through intermediaries to separatist fighters to support the attacks in Cameroon.

In addition to more than $350,000 raised through voluntary donations, the defendants conspired with others to kidnap Cameroonians for ransom and extort their relatives in the United States for payment.

The ransom payments were then transferred to separatist fighters to fund their operations.

In addition, the defendants prepared a document containing a list of expenses related to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), firearms and ammunition.

Other expenses included funds related to the kidnapping of Cardinal Christian Tumi and a Cameroonian traditional leader named Sehm Mbinglo II on November 5, 2020.

Charges against them

They are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to be used to carry out a conspiracy to kill, kidnap and maim people in a foreign country.

A leader in providing material support or resources for use in carrying out a conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States.

They are further charged with having received money following a ransom demand and on one count of having participated in a money laundering conspiracy.

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