Tom Woewiyu

Upon Woewiyu's return from a visit to Liberia, he was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport accused of lying on immigration applications by omitting his role and authority within the NPFL.

The NPFL is reported to have campaigned for ethnically-targeted killings, the conscription of child soldiers, the forcing of individuals into sexual slavery, and the alleged organization and participation in "Operation Octopus."

The infamous Operation Octopus, one of the deadliest armed attacks in the history of West Africa,[3] led to the violent attempted seizure of Monrovia which resulted in the murder of thousands of combatants and civilians, including the executions of five American nuns.

[5] In 1994, as a result of ideological dissent, Woewiyu broke away from Taylor's forces and created his own movement: the NPFL-CRC (National Patriotic Front of Liberia, Central Revolutionary Council).

[7] NPFL-CRC had limited resources but still engaged in small battles with similar tactics as the NPFL, ULIMO-J, ULIMO-K, and the LPC, however they were not a major force in the conflict.

The ACDL is known for their letter published in Front Page Africa which details the movements of the NFPL, their grievances against Samuel Doe, and calls for donations from "citizens as well as friends of Liberia.

Woewiyu publicly claimed that the ACDL had raised substantial funds, given by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to financially contribute to the war through the NPFL.

[12] While filing naturalization papers in 2006, 34 years after obtaining legal permanent resident status,[13] Woewiyu failed to disclose his membership in the NPFL, and later NPFL-CRC, both of which were rebel factions during the First Liberian Civil War.

He omitted his participation in advocating for a government overthrow, he denied persecuting people discriminately, and he failed to disclose a previous criminal conviction.

Largely through cross-examination of U.S. officials, the defense argued that the government already knew about Woewiyu's ties to the NPFL,[20] because he served as Spokesman and due to the prior investigations on him.

On April 12, he died of COVID-19 after a week of treatment at the Bryn Mawr Hospital near Philadelphia, U.S.[23] For many, this trial represents more than a conviction, it is an additional step in pursuit of justice and accountability for Liberia's victims of war crimes.

This does, however, provide the opportunity to document alleged war crimes committed in Liberia by someone residing in the U.S. in a legitimate criminal court of law.

The charges were connected to failing to disclose his role with the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) as commander of the rebel faction.

George Boley, Liberian immigrant to the United States was subject to administrative removal proceedings for his connection to the recruitment of child soldiers and extrajudicial killings.