Rwanda’s Vincent Nzigiyimfura charged with visa fraud, attempted naturalization fraud

Vincent Nzigiyimfura, 65, is a resident of Dayton, Ohio, United States. He is originally from Rwanda.

Vincent Nzigiyimfura wiswe ‘Umubazi wa Nyanza’ kubera uruhare rwe muri Jenoside yakorewe abatutsi mu 1994, yatawe muri yombi mu mujyi wa Dayton muri Ohio muri Leta Zunze ubumwe za Amerika.

Ubuhamya bushinja Nzigiyimfura ko “yafatanyije n’abasirikare, abanyapolitiki, abayobozi… pic.twitter.com/KscO4vHfeL

— KT Radio (@ktradiorw) June 16, 2025

Vincent Nzigiyimfura

From April 7, 1994 to July 19, 1994, a genocide persecuted the minority population of Tutsis in Rwanda. More than 500,000 Tutsis were murdered and more than 250,000 women were sexually abused by members of the country’s majority population of Hutus.

At the time, Nzigiyimfura, was a prominent businessman and shop owner in Rwanda. He is accused of using his wealth and leadership position in the country to organize violence against and killings of Tutsis during the genocide.

In particular, Nzigiyimfura allegedly devised a scheme to trick Tutsis in hiding to believe that the killings had stopped only to have them rounded up and murdered. He allegedly provided transportation, weapons and material inducements to Hutus, directed them to search for Tutsis and set up roadblocks to detain and kill Tutsis.

After the genocide ended, Nzigiyimfura fled Rwanda. While living in Malawi in 2008 to 2009, he allegedly submitted materially misleading applications for an immigrant visa and alien registration in the U.S.

In the applications, Nzigiyimfura claimed he left Rwanda in 1994 due to the genocide although he fled his home country because of his participation in the persecution and massacre of Tutsis.

In 2008, Nzigiyimfura was granted lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. In 2009, he moved to the country.

In 2014, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application to naturalize as a U. S. citizen and falsely denied any involvement as a perpetrator of the genocide in Rwanda.

In 2018, Nzigiyimfura submitted an application and supporting documentation to replace his permanent U.S. resident card, also known as green card. It was due to expire in 2019.

The Rwandan man obtained a new fraudulently procured green card, which was due to expire in 2029. On July 27, 2021, he allegedly used the card to apply for a driver’s license in Ohio.

On June 12, 2025, Nzigiyimfura was arrested and charged with visa fraud and two counts of attempted naturalization fraud. Unsealed on June 13, 2025, his indictment was a result of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation.