An Ivorian national, Bile Jean Philippe Assemian, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to a firearms trafficking conspiracy. Assemian, 49, was arrested in Kenya on June 26 by Kenyan authorities at the request of the United States and appeared in U.S. District Court on September 26.
The indictment alleges that from November 2018 to October 2020, Assemian and his alleged co-conspirator Koffi Andrea Versaint Taregue obtained at least 58 firearms in Northern Ohio and other locations. The firearms were reportedly concealed within household goods and shipped overseas using an export company without disclosing their true contents. Authorities say neither defendant had the required licenses or written approvals from the U.S. Department of Commerce or U.S. Department of State for these exports.
Taregue, who is also an Ivorian national with permanent resident status in the United States, remains at large.
United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Division announced the extradition and charges.
Assemian faces a charge of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison if convicted. Taregue faces multiple charges including conspiracy to smuggle goods, six counts each of smuggling goods and control of arms exports and imports, as well as unlicensed dealing in firearms and making false statements. If convicted on all counts, Taregue could face up to 205 years in prison.
Sentencing for each defendant will be determined by the court based on factors such as prior criminal record, role in the offense, and characteristics of the violation.
The investigation was conducted by members of the Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force—comprising agents from the FBI Cleveland Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and ATF—with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Segev Phillips is leading prosecution efforts with support from Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated closely with Kenyan authorities—including several law enforcement agencies—to secure Assemian’s arrest and extradition.
“An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
