A federal grand jury in Baltimore has indicted Eric Tano Tataw, a 38-year-old Cameroonian national from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Tataw, also known as "the Garri Master," is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to armed separatist groups in Cameroon and making threatening communications against Cameroonian civilians.
This announcement comes from Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, with collaboration from Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in Maryland.
Court documents reveal that the armed separatist groups in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon are striving to create a new country called "Ambazonia." To achieve this secession, they have engaged in violence against both the Cameroonian military and civilian population. These groups, often referred to as "Amba Boys," are reportedly attacking civilians to pressure the government into granting secession.
"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,” Hayes stated. "Tataw and his co-conspirators demonstrated a total disregard for human life so now they must pay the price."
Galeotti added, "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 Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting human rights violators involved in political violence and fundraising for armed militias from within the United States.
"The Justice Department will not tolerate those who help murder, maim, and kidnap,” Bai affirmed, emphasizing ongoing efforts to hold accountable individuals promoting political violence from U.S. soil.
Tataw, a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with significant social media influence, allegedly conspired since April 2018 to support the Amba Boys financially and logistically. He reportedly called for violent acts against Cameroonian civilians, including severing limbs—a practice he termed "Garriing." Tataw and his affiliates targeted individuals believed to collaborate with the Cameroonian government, including officials and employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation.
Tataw allegedly used social media to promote attacks and raise funds for the Amba Boys. A notable fundraising effort, the "National AK Campaign," aimed to equip each Amba Boy with an AK-47 rifle; from September 2018 to December 2020, over $110,000 was raised for this purpose.
It is important to note that an indictment does not equate to a guilty finding. Tataw, if convicted, could face up to 15 years in prison for material support charges and five years for each count related to threatening communications. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge.
The investigation saw collaboration from the HSI Maryland's Task Force, U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, and FBI Baltimore Field Office. Prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina A. Hoffman and Joseph Wenner, alongside other legal experts from the Justice Department.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found online. Reports of hate crimes in Maryland can be directed to the FBI Baltimore field office.
