Latest news with #EricTataw
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Master of mutilation'; Man charged in Maryland accused of inciting violence against Cameroonians
GAITHERSBURG, Md. () — A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted a Cameroonian man on charges related to his alleged involvement in the international scheme and crimes unfolding in Cameroon by armed secessionist groups, including the maiming and severing of limbs of civilians in the foreign country. 38-year-old Eric Tataw is a Cameroonian national, also known as 'the Garri Master,' or master of mutilation, according to the United States Department of Justice (). Tataw was charged with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist groups in Cameroon and promoting and encouraging the injury or kidnapping of Cameroonian civilians. New York Times report reveals critical mistakes made ahead of deadly DCA midair collision; aviation litigator weighs in In Cameroon, secessionist groups fight to form a new country called 'Ambazonia.' The armed groups are trying to coerce cooperation from the government by inflicting injuries on the civilian population. These separatist fighters are frequently referred to as 'Amba Boys,' a release states. As alleged in the indictment, Tataw was a citizen of Cameroon living in Gaithersburg, Md., and was a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a large social media following. The posts were seen by tens of thousands of viewers. With his large social media following, Tataw allegedly began in April 2018 to raise money for the group and provide resources, including weapons and personnel, to the 'Amba Boys' in Cameroon. He is accused of calling for the murder, kidnapping and maiming of Cameroonian civilians as well as those believed to be working for the government. Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice Tataw called 'Garriing.' He is also accused of using the phrase 'small Garri' to refer to removing fingers or other small appendages and the phrase 'large Garri' to refer to removing large limbs or killing people. 'The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,' said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'This indictment represents the Justice Department's commitment to hold accountable human rights violators who direct brutal political violence and fundraise for armed militias from the comfort of the United States.' 'We will not be left with another RFK Stadium': Maryland Governor reacts to Washington Commanders' return to DC A fundraising campaign, known as the 'National AK Campaign,' was designed to arm each 'Amba Boy' in Cameroon with an AK-47 rifle. Officials noted that from about September 2018 through December 2020, Tataw and his co-conspirators raised more than $110,000. 'Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda,' said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. If convicted, Tataw faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the material support count and five years in prison on each count of making threatening communications to injure or kidnap. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
'Master of Mutilation' charged with supporting Cameroon separatist groups
A federal grand jury has indicted a Maryland man on charges of making threatening communications to kidnap and injure Cameroon citizens and providing material support to separatist groups, federal prosecutors announced Friday. Eric Tataw, 38, of Gaithersburg, who allegedly refers to himself as the "Garri master" a term he coined referring to mutilation, ordered violent groups to murder, kidnap and maim civilians in support of the violence separatist fighters use against the Cameroonian government, prosecutors said. A Cameroonian national, Tataw surrendered and was set to make his initial court appearance on Friday, the department said. "The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement," said Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, in the release. Tataw allegedly referred to the dismemberment as "Garriing," using the phrase "small Garri" for smaller appendages and "large Garri" for limbs or murder, prosecutors said. He allegedly referred to himself as the "Garri master." The separatist fighters, referred to as "Amba Boys," are calling for the Northwest and Southwest regions to form a new country called "Ambazonia," prosecutors said. The Amba Boys' strategies include attacking the Cameroonian military and civilians in efforts to pressure the government into allowing the regions to secede. The violence in the western regions of Cameroon sparked in 2016, when French-speaking judges and teachers were sent to English-speaking regions, sparking Anglophone demonstrations and protests that Francophones were attempting to reduce their political and cultural significance, according to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Cameroon inherited two legal systems — English common law and French civil law — following split colonial rule in the early 20th century. When military forces violently broke up the protests in 2016, the current 'Anglophone crisis' began. The indictment alleges that Tataw began to raise funds in April 2018 to finance the Amba Boys' attacks in the western regions. Prosecutors said Tataw, with a large social media following, wrote hundreds of posts across Facebook, YouTube and Twitter calling for the civilian attacks and seeing funds to arm the Amba Boys. The posts regularly received tens of thousands of views, and the Amba Boys, and Tataw allegedly directed other third parties to circulate the posts further, the department said. "From about September 2018 through December 2020, Tataw and his co-conspirators raised more than $110,000," the release stated. "Tataw and co-conspirators transferred portions of these funds — either directly or through intermediaries — to Amba Boys located in Cameroon and neighboring Nigeria." Any alleged co-conspirators were not named in the release. The "National AK Campaign" sought to arm each Amba Boy with an AK-47 rifle in Cameroon, the department said. Prosecutors said funds supplied Amba Boys with explosive materials and items for enforced lockdowns or "ghost-town" orders. Tataw is alleged to have communicated with the Amba Boy leaders directly, repeatedly taking personal credit for the group's murders and kidnappings, the release stated. Tataw allegedly threatened and targeted people he believed were cooperating with the Cameroonian government, such as municipal officials and traditional chiefs, the release stated. Employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation, a public company that grows, processes and sells products like bananas and rubber, were also target, prosecutors said. Tataw also called for public, educational and cultural properties to be destroyed, according to the release. "Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government," said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland in the release. "They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda." Tataw is charged with four counts of interstate communication of a threat to harm and one count of conspiracy to provide material support. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of five years on each count of communication of threat to harm, and up to 15 years on the material support count.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland man indicted, charged with conspiring to support violent armed Cameroon militias
April 25 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice said Friday that a federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against a Maryland man on charges of conspiring to support armed separatist militias in Cameroon. Cameroon national and Maryland resident Eric Tataw surrendered to custody and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday. According to Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the DOJ's Criminal Division, "The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement." The DOJ said in a statement that the violent armed groups are fighting to form a new nation called "Ambazonia" in the northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland said in a statement, "Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda." The militia are known as "Amba Boys." Prosecutors allege that Tataw and others "sought to raise funds for the Amba Boys to finance violent attacks in Cameroon." They say Tataw allegedly also called "for the murder, kidnapping, and maiming of civilians and the destruction of public, educational, and cultural property in Cameroon." Prosecutors further allege Tataw directed maiming torture of Cameroon civilians by severing limbs. Tataw allegedly referred to himself as "Garri Master," or master of mutilation. Tataw faces up to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to the militias and five years on each of four counts "of interstate communication of a threat to harm."
