Godlove Nche Manchoe, Illegal Arms Export, Maryland 2018

BALTIMORE, MD – Godlove Nche Manchoe, 44, of Bowie, Maryland, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 46 months for his role in a conspiracy to illegally funnel weapons and ammunition to separatist fighters in Cameroon. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence yesterday, followed by two years of supervised release. The operation, exposed by a multi-agency investigation, aimed to arm those battling the government of Cameroon, turning a quiet corner of Maryland into a staging ground for international conflict.

According to court documents and testimony, Manchoe wasn’t a lone actor. He was part of a network that met both online and in person, including in the basement of co-conspirator Tamufor St. Michael’s residence. There, the group allegedly reloaded ammunition, assembled firearms, and prepped shipments for overseas delivery. Manchoe wasn’t just present; he actively funded the operation, forwarding money from other conspirators to St. Michael for the purchase of weapons and ammunition. The scale of the conspiracy points to a calculated effort to equip a foreign insurgency.

The scheme came to light in December 2018 when a shipping container, concealing a 1989 Toyota truck, arrived at St. Michael’s residence. This seemingly innocuous delivery was, in fact, the conduit for a cache of illegal weapons. The conspirators loaded the container, hiding firearms, ammunition, and other military-type items within the truck and disguised among compressors. On January 17, 2019, the container departed the Port of Baltimore, destined for Onne, Nigeria. The deception didn’t end there. The group filed false export information with the Department of Commerce, listing the contents as a Toyota Tundra, the 1989 truck, and “doors and frames.” They even used a fictitious address and a prepaid cell phone to further mask their activities.

Law enforcement wasn’t fooled for long. Roughly a month later, the container was ordered back to Baltimore. On May 20, 2019, a search revealed the truth. Hidden within the trucks and sealed compressors were 38 firearms, including sniper rifles and SKS assault rifles – some with obliterated serial numbers. The haul also included rifle scopes and a substantial amount of ammunition, effectively turning an old schoolhouse’s worth of goods into a mobile armory. The attempt to conceal the weapons within legitimate cargo proved insufficient to evade detection.

The investigation was a joint effort led by U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, alongside the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division, and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) – Mid-Atlantic Field Office. Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of HSI, Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of ATF, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of DCIS all played a role in bringing Manchoe and his co-conspirators to justice.

Manchoe’s 46-month sentence sends a clear message: illegally exporting weapons with the intent to fuel foreign conflict will not be tolerated. While Manchoe has been sentenced, the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to pursue other members of the conspiracy. The case highlights the growing threat of individuals within the United States aiding and abetting armed conflicts abroad, and the dedication of federal agencies to disrupting such dangerous activity.

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