STUPIDS ARE AS STUPIDS DO

Four Americans indicted for plotting a coup attempt in Democratic Republic of Congo

 

by: Matthew Holloway

 

Law Enforcement Today

Apr 13, 2025

 

 

 

Four Americans, three of whom have recently been transferred to the United States, are accused of involvement in a failed coup attempt in May 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Four U.S. Citizens, Marcel Malanga, 22, Tyler Thompson, 22, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, 37, and Joseph Peter Moesser, 67, have been indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah after being captured in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and transported back to the United States. They face charges of conspiring to unlawfully carry out a coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May of 2024.

In particular, charging documents revealed the charges include: conspiring to provide material support and resources, conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country.

According to a release from the Department of Justice, the complaint from the DOJ alleges that the men, termed the “coconspirators,” “conducted an armed military operation (Armed Coup Attack) specifically targeting DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Vital Kamerhe (Kamerhe), attacking both the Palais de la Nation (the official residence and principal workplace of the president) and Kamerhe’s private residence in Kinshasa, DRC.”

Malanga, Thompson, and Polun were captured in the DRC, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. As reported by The New York Post, the three men's sentences were commuted to life in prison, and they were repatriated back to the U.S. to face charges here.

According to the federal complaint, the men were working to overthrow the government and replace it with a new one styled “the New Zaire” and install Christian Malanga, Marcel’s father, and an opposition leader in the DRC as President. Marcel Malanga referred to himself as “Chief of Staff of the Zaire army” and led the violent coup attempt. His father, who livestreamed the incident from the presidential palace was later killed resisting arrest.

Joseph Peter Moesser was separately apprehended in Utah, according to Fox News, and will be the first to appear in Salt Lake City. Malanga, Thompson, and Polun will appear first in Brooklyn, NY, before being transported to Salt Lake City.

The DOJ stated, “The defendants planned, scouted out targets, and identified victims for the Armed Coup Attack, with the purpose and intent to murder other persons, including high-level DRC government officials. They recruited others to join in the Armed Coup Attack as personnel for the rebel army and, in some cases, recruited personnel in exchange for money.

"The defendants also acquired and attempted to acquire explosive and incendiary devices with the purpose and intent to use such devices to target individuals, private property, and DRC government buildings. Coconspirators communicated with and procured destructive devices, to include carrier devices such as drones, explosives, incendiary devices, and delivery mechanisms, from businesses, private parties, and at least one individual associated with a foreign military to effectuate the Armed Coup Attack.”

Specifically, Polun acted as Marcel Malanga’s chief of staff, while Moesser was the group’s explosives maker, explosives technician, and explosives supplier. Thompson was reportedly a soldier and drone operator.

The men reportedly intended to use bombs on various targets, including people, private homes, and government building,s via drone. They also planned to mount a flamethrower to one drone and use it as an incendiary weapon.

Should the four men be convicted they will face up to 15 years in federal prison for each count of conspiring to provide material support and resources and up to life in prison for each count of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to bomb places of government facilities, and conspiracy to kill or kidnap persons in a foreign country.