Ohio man convicted of lying about Rwandan genocide role

A US federal jury in Boston convicted Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, a Rwandan-born Ohio resident, of lying about his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the Department of Justice said.

Nshimiye, 54, was found guilty Tuesday of four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The Justice Department said he also used the name Nshimiyimana.

The department said Nshimiye entered the United States in 1995 as a refugee by failing to disclose what it called his violent participation in the genocide. It said he later gave false information about his involvement to obtain lawful permanent residence and US citizenship.

US Attorney Leah Foley said Nshimiye, who lived in Ohio and worked for Goodyear Tire, obtained refuge in the United States by lying to immigration officials about acts he committed against the Tutsi community.

Prosecutors said Nshimiye was a medical student at the time and took part in attacks on Tutsi men and women, including clubbing people to death.

The convictions stemmed from false testimony Nshimiye gave at the 2019 Boston trial of Jean Leonard Teganya, another convicted Rwandan genocide perpetrator. Nshimiye denied at that trial that he and Teganya were involved in the genocide.

Sentencing was set for January 26, 2027. Nshimiye faces up to five years in prison for each perjury count and up to 10 years for obstruction of justice.