Three Americans transferred from Congo to US, one arrested in Utah, charged with coup to overthrow government

A transgression ailment unsealed Wednesday successful the District of Utah charged 4 U.S. citizens with conspiring to unlawfully transportation retired a coup d’état successful the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Marcel Malanga, 22, Tyler Thompson, 22, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, are charged with conspiracy to supply worldly enactment and resources, conspiracy to usage weapons of wide destruction, conspiracy to weaponry places of authorities facilities, and conspiracy to termination oregon kidnap persons successful a overseas country, among different offenses, according to a quality merchandise from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, left, Marcel Malanga and Tyler Thompson, each American citizens, be a tribunal verdict successful Congo, Kinshasa, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, connected charges of taking portion successful a coup effort successful May 2024.  (AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

CONGO COMMUTES 3 AMERICANS' DEATH SENTENCES FOLLOWING COUP ATTEMPT

The men are accused of conducting an equipped coup, specifically targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe, attacking some the Palais de la Nation — the authoritative location and main workplace of the president — and Kamerhe’s backstage location successful Kinshasa, DRC. 

At slightest six radical died during the attack, including 2 constabulary officers protecting Kamerhe’s home, and astatine slightest 1 guiltless civilian. 

The DOJ said the extremity of the cognition was to execution President Félix Tshisekedi, Kamerhe and others, found a caller authorities known arsenic the New Zaire, and instal person Christian Malanga, who died during the coup, arsenic the president of the New Zaire.

Rebecca Higbee the parent of Tyler Thompson, points to her lad and his person Marcel during his 21st day with his household connected May 30, 2024, successful West Jordan, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Marcel Malanga identified himself arsenic the "Chief of Staff of the Zaire army"; Polun was Christian Malanga’s main of staff; Moesser was the explosives maker, technician and supplier; and Thompson was a soldier, drone specializer and operator, according to the complaint.

Christian Malanga, Marcel Malanga, Thompson, Polun and Moesser allegedly conspired to supply worldly enactment and resources including services, training, adept proposal oregon assistance, connection equipment, weapons, explosives, and unit to the rebel service which was formed to overthrow the DRC government.

Tyler Thompson Jr, addresses the tribunal successful Kinshasa with 52 different defendants Friday June 7, 2024, accused of a relation successful past month's attempted coup successful Congo, led by little-known absorption fig Christian Malanga, successful which six radical were killed. (AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

FLASHBACK: 3 AMERICANS IN CONGO SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER COUP ATTEMPT 

The DOJ besides accused the men of conspiring to get and usage weapons of wide demolition during the coup. 

They allegedly planned to usage bombs that could beryllium deployed to their targets, including people, backstage homes and nationalist buildings, via drones. 

In addition, they intended to connect a flamethrower instrumentality to a drone and usage it arsenic an incendiary instrumentality to airy radical connected fire.

Thompson unpacks the flamethrower drone attachment from its container and displays it for the camera. (U.S. Department of Justice)

Earlier this month, the DRC president commuted Marcel Malanga, Thompson and Polun's decease sentences, switching them to beingness imprisonment.

If convicted, the men look a maximum punishment of up to 15 years successful situation for each number of conspiring to supply worldly enactment and resources, and up to beingness successful situation for each number of conspiracy to usage weapons of wide destruction, conspiracy to weaponry places of authorities facilities, and conspiracy to termination oregon kidnap persons successful a overseas country. 

Malanga and Thompson, if convicted, would besides each look a maximum condemnation of up to 15 years successful situation for each number of taking a firearm retired of the U.S. to prosecute successful a felony.

Defendants were seen successful a societal media livestream during the attempted coup. (U.S. Department of Justice)

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Malanga, Thompson and Polun are expected to marque their archetypal appearances astatine the national courthouse successful Brooklyn, New York. Moesser is expected to marque his archetypal quality connected April 10 astatine the national courthouse successful Salt Lake City, Utah.

After their archetypal appearances successful New York, it is expected that Malanga, Thompson and Polun volition look successful Salt Lake City for further ineligible proceedings.

The lawsuit is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, with assistance by the FBI New York Field Office and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office successful Nairobi, Kenya, which oversees the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.