A federal jury in Missouri needed less than three hours on Monday to convict two U.S. citizens of orchestrating a violent campaign of terror thousands of miles away in West Africa.
Francis Chenyi, Sr., 52, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Lah Nestor Langmi, 49, of Buffalo, New York, were found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to separatist fighters in Cameroon. Prosecutors said the men funneled money and equipment used to kidnap civilians, ransom hostages, and detonate explosives against government targets.
The verdict caps a trial that laid bare a pipeline of funding stretching from American cities to the volatile Northwest Region of Cameroon.
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According to evidence presented during the trial, which began December 1, the defendants did more than just send cash; they were intimately involved in the tactical planning of violent acts. The jury found both men guilty of conspiracy to provide resources intended to “kill, kidnap, and maim” persons abroad, as well as conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) outside the United States. They were also convicted on international money laundering charges.
Kidnappings and Election Attacks
The government’s case highlighted several specific incidents, including the high-profile kidnapping of a traditional leader and Roman Catholic Cardinal Christian Tumi in November 2020.
Prosecutors revealed that Langmi tracked the leader’s movements and sent audio messages to fighters directing the abduction. After separatist forces pulled the men from their vehicles, Chenyi reportedly drafted interrogation questions for the hostages and approved money transfers to fund the operation.
Testimony also showed the men supported the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In December 2020, Chenyi approved funding for IED construction designed to enforce a lockdown during an upcoming election. Prosecutors said Langmi also coordinated the development of rocket-propelled grenades and attempted to organize attacks near the 2021 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament.
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“Accountable” for Distant Crimes
U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price emphasized that distance does not grant immunity from federal law.
“As the verdict indicates, whether you’re committing a crime locally or – as in this case – supporting illegal conduct half a world away, when you conspire to violate federal law, we will hold you accountable,” Price said following the verdict.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, with FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus noting the group’s actions directly threatened civilians.
“Their actions also included providing equipment, supplies, and weapons to a separatist movement for the purpose of carrying out attacks against the government of Cameroon and its personnel,” Cyrus said.
Sentencing Looms
A third conspirator, 43-year-old Claude Ngenevu Chi of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on November 19 to similar charges regarding the support of WMD use abroad.
Chenyi and Langmi now face significant prison time. Federal statutes allow for a sentence of up to 15 years for the conspiracy to provide material support and up to 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled following an investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
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