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A 65-year-old man living quietly as a gardener and beekeeper in the upscale Long Island community of Bridgehampton, New York, was arrested Thursday, April 24, 2025, and charged by U.S. federal authorities for allegedly participating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Faustin Nsabumukunzi, a former local leader in Rwanda, stands accused of playing a direct role in organizing and committing mass violence during one of the most horrific genocides of the 20th century. U.S. prosecutors allege that Nsabumukunzi helped orchestrate the killings of ethnic Tutsis during the genocide, which saw an estimated 800,000 people murdered in just 100 days.
According to court documents, Nsabumukunzi is believed to have supervised roadblocks in his region that were used to identify, detain, and execute Tutsi civilians. Witnesses claim he not only facilitated these acts but also directed armed Hutu groups in carrying out the killings. His involvement was serious enough that he was later convicted in absentia by a Rwandan genocide court and sentenced to life in prison.
Despite this past, Nsabumukunzi was able to enter the United States in 2003 under refugee status, a move U.S. authorities now say was achieved through deception. Prosecutors allege that he lied on immigration documents, falsely denying any involvement in the genocide and omitting key details about his leadership role during the conflict. He allegedly repeated these falsehoods in subsequent applications for permanent residency and U.S. citizenship.
“For over 20 years, Faustin Nsabumukunzi lived a quiet life in the United States while hiding a dark history,” said John Durham, a federal prosecutor. “His arrest represents a commitment to ensuring that those involved in crimes against humanity are held accountable, no matter how much time has passed or how far they have fled.”
He now faces federal charges of immigration fraud and naturalization fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years if convicted. He was arrested at his residence last Thursday and later released on a $250,000 bond. Under the terms of his bail, he will remain under home detention with GPS monitoring but has been allowed to continue working as a gardener.
Nsabumukunzi’s case has brought renewed attention to efforts by Rwanda and international agencies to track down and prosecute individuals who took part in the 1994 genocide but later resettled in other countries, sometimes under false pretenses.
In the United States, Nsabumukunzi had gradually built a life centered around agriculture. Prior to his arrest, he was reportedly managing over 100 beehives for the Hamptons Honey Company. However, the company’s owner, Gabriel Alfaya, has publicly denied any knowledge of his employment there.
Back in Rwanda, Nsabumukunzi once oversaw a vast network of over 150 beekeepers and 1,500 hives, according to a 2006 New York Times profile. His skill in beekeeping seemed to follow him to the U.S., where he quietly gained recognition in local agricultural circles.
His attorney, Evan Sugar, has strongly defended his client, portraying him as a peaceful immigrant who himself suffered personal losses during the genocide. “Mr. Nsabumukunzi is a law-abiding man who lost many family members and friends in the genocide,” Sugar told the Associated Press. “He plans to fight these decades-old allegations and prove his innocence.”
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