Didimus Kimbi faces up to 15 years in federal prison. The 37-year-old Bridgeport resident, who also goes by the name “Samba Ngala,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to an armed separatist group operating in central Africa, WAJR reported.
Financing the Ambazonia Defense Forces
For more than three years, Kimbi funneled financial support to the Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF). Federal prosecutors revealed that his involvement reached far past simple monetary contributions, noting that court documents establish him as a crucial intermediary between ground commanders in Cameroon and the individuals responsible for approving weapon purchases.
Drafting Operational Plans for Harm
Prosecutors detailed that Kimbi utilized intelligence provided directly by field commanders to draft and transmit operational plans to ADF leadership. The court documents show these plans were explicitly designed to cause harm. The broader ADF campaign aimed to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure individuals within Cameroon.
Multi-Office Federal Investigation
The extensive interstate and international reach of the network triggered a multi-office federal investigation. Agents from FBI field offices in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., spearheaded the probe into Kimbi’s logistical operations.
Kimbi Faces up to Fifteen Years Following Terrorism Enhancement
As part of his guilty plea agreement, Kimbi accepted a sentencing enhancement for a federal crime of terrorism. That provision significantly raises his potential prison exposure, leaving him facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal custody as of Tuesday.
WV MetroNews noted that the case is being actively prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia alongside the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The prosecution team includes Deputy Criminal Chief Jarod J. Douglas, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney Randolph Bernard, and Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe.
