Washington D.C. – Three American citizens previously convicted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for participating in a failed coup attempt have been repatriated to the United States and are now facing federal charges, according to U.S. authorities.
The individuals—Marcel Malanga, 22; Tyler Thompson Jr., 22; and Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37—were returned to U.S. custody on Tuesday, April 8, following the commutation of their death sentences to life imprisonment by Congolese authorities. The repatriation was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa.
Upon their return, the U.S. Department of Justice charged the trio, along with a fourth individual, Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, with multiple offenses related to the attempted overthrow of the Congolese government in May 2024. Moesser is alleged to have provided bomb-making expertise to the group.
The coup attempt was orchestrated by Christian Malanga, a Congolese opposition figure and father of Marcel Malanga. The plot aimed to establish a new government, dubbed “New Zaire,” with the elder Malanga as its president. During the failed operation, Christian Malanga was killed while resisting arrest.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants were involved in organizing and supporting a rebel army, recruiting participants within the U.S., acquiring drones and military-style weapons, and undergoing firearms training. Social media images and videos purportedly show the group at the Congolese presidential palace during the attack.
The initial death sentences for the three Americans were commuted to life imprisonment before their transfer to the U.S. They are scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn, while Moesser is set to appear in Salt Lake City.
