Rebel leader with alleged history of war crimes came to South Jersey illegally, feds say

PHILADELPHIA – A South Jersey man from Liberia is accused of hiding his earlier as a rebel leader in buy to achieve entrance to the United States.

Laye Sekou Camara 43, allegedly served as a basic and employed youngster soldiers for a group that fought in a civil war that started in Liberia in 1999, federal authorities say.

The Mays Landing man concealed his purpose in the conflict when making use of for visas to the United States in 2011 and 2012, in accordance to the U.S. Lawyer General’s Business.

It alleges Camara was a general for a faction known as Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, or LURD. The group’s members had been dependable for brutality, war crimes and atrocities, the statement states.

A felony complaint states a 2003 report on human rights methods in Liberia claimed Camara “was in hiding right after he allegedly killed a fellow LURD standard …”

An ambassador and a protection attaché once stationed at the U.S embassy in Liberia recalled acquiring immediate call with Camara, regarded to them as Standard Dragon Grasp, the grievance provides.

It also says Camara “was prominently pictured with other LURD rebels in the New York Instances in 2003″ and that he appeared in two documentaries about the Liberian conflict.

The U.S. Attorney’s Business office contends Camara, in his to start with visa software, falsely mentioned he experienced never served in a rebel group and had not participated in political killings, in accordance to the statement.

In the 2nd software, Camara falsely contended he had hardly ever recruited or employed baby troopers, the complaint alleges.

Both equally visas have been permitted, and Camara acquired a Green Card, signaling his authorized lasting home in the United States.

He utilised the Green Card to obtain a Pennsylvania point out ID card in 2017, primary to the present-day charge of employing an immigration document attained by fraud.

The demand is only an allegation. Camara has not been convicted in the situation.

Jim Walsh handles community protection, economic advancement and other beats for the Courier-Submit, Burlington County Occasions and The Every day Journal.

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This short article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Write-up: Laye Sekou Camara accused of hiding his role in civil war in Liberia