Uniontown Man Convicted for Decades‑Long Scheme to Hide Role in Rwandan Genocide Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, 54, was found guilty by a federal jury of perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about his participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and manipulating immigration and court records over a nearly 30‑year period. The verdict deprives him of the chance to hide behind false claims and underscores US efforts to prosecute war criminals. A Uniontown, Ohio resident, Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston on Tuesday for a complex scheme that allegedly spanned nearly three decades and involved concealing his participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which claimed the lives of more than 800,000 people. Nshimiye, who also goes by the name Eric Tabaro Nshimiyimana, faced charges that included four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The United States Department of Justice released a statement detailing how the defendant's lies extended beyond the immigration process to an alleged attempt to protect himself and a fellow perpetrator during a 2019 trial in Boston involving Jean Leonard Teganya, a convicted Rwandan genocide offender.According to United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, "Eric Tabaro Nshimiye lived under a web of lies and deception. He obtained refuge in this Country by lying to immigration officials about his involvement in the Rwandan genocide and the appalling acts he committed on the Tutsi community." The Justice Department's Criminal Division emphasized that the US protects victims, not violent criminals, and that the verdict ensures Nshimiye can no longer hide behind his falsehoods. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated, "For nearly three decades, this defendant concealed his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the heinous acts of violence he committed… He lied to immigration officials to become a U.S. citizen and lied to a federal jury to protect himself and a fellow perpetrator of the genocide.Potential Sentences And Legal Penalties" The sentencing guidelines for the charges carried out by the court include potential maximum sentences of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000 for obstruction of justice, and up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines up to $250,000 for perjury. The judge scheduled Nshimiye's sentencing for January 26, 2027.In remarks, HSI New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming praised the survivors and witnesses who bravely testified, saying, "This verdict belongs to the victims who bravely shared their stories, traveling across the world to relive the most horrifying moments of their lives and bring Nshimiye to justice.Specific Allegations Of Murder And Violence" Nshimiye's alleged crimes involve the use of a nail‑studded club and a machete to kill Tutsi men, women and children. He also allegedly falsified and concealed evidence, obstructed justice and lied in court. Following an initial appearance in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio in Youngstown, Nshimiye was detained and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy stated, "For nearly 30 years, Mr. Nshimiye allegedly hid the truth about crimes he committed during the Rwandan genocide in order to seek refuge in the United States and reap the benefits of U.S. citizenship. Our refuge and asylum laws exist to protect true victims of persecution - not the perpetrators.Prosecution Evidence And Defense Claims" The case underscores the US government's commitment to prosecuting individuals who have committed human rights violations abroad and then evaded immigration laws. It also highlights the role of survivors and witnesses in ensuring justice is served. While Nshimiye's nephew, Epa Bizimana, maintains his uncle's innocence, citing that Eric came to the U.S. in 1995 and worked as an engineer, the prosecution has gathered substantial evidence of his alleged involvement in the war crimes that led to the Rwandan genocide.