Related Federal Cases
Owings Mills Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years for Arming Cameroonian Separatists
BALTIMORE, MD – Wilson Nuyila Tita, 47, of Owings Mills, Maryland, will spend the next 63 months in federal prison for his role in a sophisticated gun smuggling operation funneling weapons and ammunition to separatists fighting against the government of Cameroon. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence today, alongside a two-year period of supervised release. Tita was convicted on May 6, 2022, following a two-week trial that exposed a network dedicated to illegally exporting firearms from the United States.
The case, investigated by a multi-agency task force including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, revealed a conspiracy stretching from at least November 2017 through July 2019. Tita, along with co-defendants Eric Fru Nji, 42, of Fort Washington, Maryland, and Wilson Che Fonguh, 41, of Bowie, Maryland, conspired to purchase and ship a substantial arsenal to Nigeria, intended for use by the Cameroonian separatists. Nji was previously sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.
Evidence presented at trial detailed how the group managed to smuggle 38 firearms, 28 of which had their serial numbers deliberately obliterated, inside a shipping container departing the Port of Baltimore in January 2019. The cache included dangerous weaponry – sniper rifles, SKS assault rifles (some equipped with bayonets), various other rifles, and multiple handguns. The firearms were accompanied by 44 high-capacity magazines, two rifle scopes, and a staggering 35,000+ rounds of ammunition. Investigators found the weapons concealed within duffle bags and heavily wrapped packages inside sealed compressor units, a clear attempt to evade detection.
Prosecutors demonstrated that Tita wasn’t getting his hands dirty. Testimony revealed he directed the loading of the container, preferring to oversee the operation rather than physically participate. The group funded the purchase of firearms, ammunition, and shipping materials, communicating through an encrypted messaging app and using coded language to mask their activities. The operation wasn’t simply about selling guns; it was about actively supporting an armed conflict overseas. According to U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, the group funneled funds for the purchase of the weaponry.
“This case highlights the serious threat posed by those who seek to arm conflicts abroad,” said Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the ATF Baltimore Field Division. The investigation isn’t over. Fonguh and seven other individuals charged in related cases are still awaiting sentencing, suggesting a broader network of support for the operation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland commended HSI, ATF, and DCIS for their collaborative work on the case, and also acknowledged contributions from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of State, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin prosecuted the case, bringing the full weight of federal law down on a conspiracy that sought to destabilize a foreign nation. The sentencing of Tita serves as a warning that those who attempt to circumvent U.S. export laws and arm foreign fighters will face severe consequences.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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