Tatenda Banga, a Zimbabwean citizen, pleaded guilty to illegal border crossing, unlawful possession of firearms, and drug-related offenses in the U.S. He was apprehended with firearms and MDMA after being repeatedly recorded by surveillance near the Canadian border. His sentencing is set for June 12, facing significant prison time for his actions.
Tatenda Banga, a 30-year-old citizen of Zimbabwe, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies stemming from his illegal border crossings between Canada and Washington State in 2024. The plea, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, included charges for unlawful possession of firearms as an alien and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Banga’s sentencing is set for June 12 before U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead.
Banga was first spotted on January 3, 2024, by U.S. Border Patrol detection technology while armed with a longarm shotgun at Ross Lake, near Hozomeen, Washington. After an extensive search, law enforcement located a loaded 12-gauge Winchester shotgun, later traced back to a firearms dealer in Montreal. However, no fingerprints were initially matched to the weapon.
On December 27, 2024, the National Park Service reported suspicious border activity, linking Banga to a canoe found with a machete and food wrappers. Subsequently, Border Patrol agents recognized him walking near Highway 20 based on surveillance images. Upon apprehension, Banga lacked documentation and possessed approximately 1.4 pounds of MDMA, scales, and gelatin capsules.
Border Patrol agents determined Banga’s identity, recalling his previous illegal activity of defacing surveillance cameras nearly a year prior. A re-examination of fingerprints from the shotgun ultimately matched those of Banga’s, further connecting him to the earlier incident. Banga has since admitted to unlawfully crossing into the U.S. while armed.
The charges he faces entail severe consequences: being an unlawful alien with a firearm carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, while controlled substance possession with intent to distribute can lead to up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Whitehead will decide the formal sentencing after evaluating guidelines and other relevant factors. The investigation involved the U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector Anti-Smuggling Unit, National Park Service, and ICE HSI, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Collins.
Tatenda Banga’s case underscores critical issues surrounding illegal border crossings and associated criminal activities. Pleading guilty to serious felonies, he faces potential incarceration of up to 35 years across both charges. His apprehension highlights the coordinated efforts of U.S. law enforcement agencies in addressing cross-border crime, reflecting the strict consequences imposed on illegal entry and possession of firearms and drugs.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
