OWINGS MILLS MAN

photo: Within Nigeria

Owings Mills Man Sentenced For Conspiring To Ship Dozens Of Firearms To Nigeria

An Owings Mills man was sentenced last week to 63 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the United States to Nigeria.

Wilson Nuyila Tita, 47, of Owings Mills, was convicted of conspiracy to transport firearms with obliterated serial numbers and smuggling firearms and ammunition on May 6, 2022. Three other Marylanders were co-defendants in the trial.

According to court documents, Tita and his co-defendants conspired with others to export firearms and other military items from the U.S. to Nigeria between November 2017 and July 2019. Specifically, the conspirators secretly shipped 38 guns, including sniper rifles and assault rifles, as well as ammunition and other equipment, in a container from the Port of Baltimore in January 2019.

Court documents state that Tita was present for the loading of the container but did not participate in the physical labor because he “didn’t like to get his hands dirty.”

According to court documents, the firearms were intended to be used by separatists fighting against the Government of Cameroon.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the ATF, and DCIS for their work in the investigation.

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