A Rwandan refugee convicted of war crimes in his home country was sprung from custody by a wealthy New Yorker who covered his bond after he was arrested by federal authorities this week, according to reports.
Faustin Nsabumukunzi, 65, was apprehended on Long Island and charged with immigration fraud.
The Rwandan is accused of repeatedly lying about his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which he allegedly played a key role as a “Sector Councilor,” orchestrating and encouraging killings, rapes, and committing acts of extreme violence.
Nsabumukunzi reportedly fled his homeland and lived in Cote D’Ivoire for 10 years before coming to the U.S. as an asylum seeker in 2004.
He was convicted in absentia during a 2008 trial in a local Rwandan court and sentenced to life in prison.
The Public Prosecutor of Rwanda also indicted Nsabumukunzi for genocide crimes in 2014 and he has been a fugitive for decades, say federal prosecutors, who asked he be held without bail as a flight risk.
Nsabumukunzi’s green card was approved in 2007 after he “explicitly denied ever engaging in genocide and denied ever committing a crime of moral turpitude,” according to the feds.
“When he applied to become a US citizen in 2016 that triggered an automatic investigation into his background and that same year Interpol had issued a Red Notice for him — ultimately leading the feds to uncover the truth about his alleged crimes,” the New York Post reports, citing a source close to the investigation.
Nsabumukunzi has been working as a beekeeper while living in Bridgehampton, garnering fawning profile pieces in local media and even the New York Times.
2006: NY Times writes fawning profile piece on newly-arrived African refugee working as beekeeper on Long Island
— Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) April 26, 2025
Faustin Nsabumukunzi was just arrested by feds who say he helped orchestrate 1994 Rwandan genocide
Private equity mogul Steve Felsher reportedly covered his bail pic.twitter.com/LMNEH7KpRJ
Judge Joanna Seybert of the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of New York agreed to release Nsabumukunzi on $250,000 bond, which was signed by Steven Felsher, a private equity mogul and Hamptons resident.
The Rwandan will be allowed to continue working as a beekeeper and gardener for Felsher but must wear a GPS device under the terms of his release.
“I know, I’m finished,” Nsabumukunzi reportedly told agents during his arrest.
He could face up to 30 years in prison and/or deportation, if convicted.
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