Wilson Nuyila Tita, Illicit Arms Export, Maryland 2024

Baltimore, MD – Three Maryland residents, Wilson Nuyila Tita, Eric Fru Nji, and Wilson Che Fonguh, are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in a scheme to export firearms and ammunition from the United States to Nigeria without proper licenses.

According to a four-count indictment, the defendants conspired to export defense articles and items identified on the United States Munitions List and the Commerce Control List without obtaining export licenses. They allegedly concealed the shipments by using heavily wrapped packages and duffle bags, and inside sealed compressor units.

The indictment also claims that the defendants used an encrypted messaging application and code words to discuss their plans. One of the co-conspirators allegedly submitted electronic export information to the U.S. government with false information.

The indictment alleges that on January 17, 2019, the defendants exported or attempted to export 38 firearms, over 35,000 rounds of ammunition, and 44 magazines to Nigeria without proper licenses. They also allegedly exported a Bushnell Trophy Rifle Optic and a Burris AR Rifle Scope.

If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy, a maximum of 20 years in federal prison each for violating the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Control Reform Act, and a maximum of five years in federal prison for transportation of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The case was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner, Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations, and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after taking into account various factors. The indictment was returned late yesterday in the District of Maryland. The defendants are scheduled to appear in court for arraignment at a later date.

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