A federal grand jury in Ohio has indicted a 65-year-old Rwandan man, Vincent Nzigiyimfura, also known as Vincent Mfura, on charges related to lying on immigration and naturalization applications.
The charges stem from allegations that he concealed his involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The indictment, which includes three counts, was unsealed following his arrest on June 11, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio.
According to the indictment, Nzigiyimfura was a key participant in the genocide that occurred between April and July of 1994. He is accused of playing a leading role in orchestrating violence in the Gihisi and Nyanza regions of Rwanda, where he was a famous businessman and butcher.
Prosecutors allege that he supplied weapons and transportation, encouraged others to carry out killings, and even deceived Tutsis into emerging from hiding with false promises of safety, only to have them executed.
Authorities claim Nzigiyimfura actively established roadblocks used to detain and murder Tutsis and used his personal vehicle to transport materials for constructing these roadblocks.
“As alleged, Vincent Nzigiyimfura directed and encouraged murders during the genocide in Rwanda and then lied to U.S. authorities to start a new life in this country,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“The United States is not a safe haven for human rights violators. Those, like the defendant, who commit immigration fraud to hide their violent pasts will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Justice Department praised the collaboration between its Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cincinnati, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio in advancing the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris emphasized the severity of the allegations. “The indictment alleges this defendant facilitated the killings of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide and then lied about it on immigration applications in the United States,” she stated.
Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) was committed to pursuing justice for victims of genocide.
“No one wants a war criminal as their neighbor and these allegations paint a grim picture of the horror Nzigiyimfura inflicted on the Tutsi people. His indictment and arrest is a step toward justice for those victims,” he reaffirmed.
The indictment outlines that after the genocide ended in 1994, Nzigiyimfura fled Rwanda and relocated to Malawi. Between 2008 and 2009, he allegedly submitted fraudulent applications for an immigrant visa and alien registration to the United States.
Among the misrepresentations, he falsely denied having participated in genocide or persecution. He reportedly signed official documents affirming that he understood the legal consequences of making false statements, including the possibility of criminal prosecution.
One affidavit he submitted falsely claimed that he left Rwanda “due to the Genocide,” omitting the fact that he was fleeing because of his role in the atrocities.
These misleading declarations enabled him to obtain a U.S. immigrant visa in 2009. Five years later, Nzigiyimfura applied for naturalization, again allegedly submitting false information.
He denied ever persecuting anyone, committing a crime, or lying to government officials, claims contradicted by the indictment.
In November 2014, during an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Nzigiyimfura reportedly reiterated those false statements. His citizenship application has not been approved.
In 2018, he applied for a replacement green card, which was set to expire in 2019. Using the previously obtained fraudulent documentation, he was issued a new green card valid until 2029.
The indictment also states that he used this green card to apply for an Ohio driver’s license in July 2021. He is now charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud.
If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by HSI Cincinnati, with support from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), an initiative launched in 2009 to identify and prosecute human rights offenders residing in the United States.
The Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section is leading the prosecution, handled by Trial Attorney Brian Morgan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Painter, with support from historian Dr. Christopher Hayden and the Office of International Affairs.
