Military Families Sue Lafarge Over ISIS Payments
In November 2017, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy was seriously injured in Raqqa, Syria. He was tasked with clearing a hospital’s second floor, where ISIS had placed explosives. Now a quadriplegic, Kenton, his wife Lindsay, and their four children are part of a lawsuit against French cement company Lafarge. A French court found Lafarge guilty of paying millions in bribes to ISIS, ensuring its factories operated in areas controlled by the terrorist group.
“Essentially, they funneled money to ISIS, which, well, funded these terrible actions,” Lindsay Stacy shared during an interview. Standing next to Kenton, a former Navy explosive ordnance disposal expert who recently underwent another surgery, she highlighted their ongoing struggles. “It’s overwhelming. Kenton has his own battles, and my kids, they have their own, too. Balancing it all is tough, especially considering my eldest son has cerebral palsy and requires constant care.”
President Donald Trump acknowledged Kenton’s service during his 2018 State of the Union address. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck notably saved Kenton, performing CPR for over two hours.
A significant development occurred in April when a French court convicted Lafarge, whose former CEO received a six-year prison sentence for providing material support to a terrorist organization. Eight of the corporation’s past employees faced convictions as well. Lafarge recognized the court’s findings as a serious breach of its Code of Conduct.
The ongoing lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York includes around 1,000 plaintiffs, primarily military families. “These families lost loved ones because of a horrific group funded in part by Lafarge,” argued Todd Toral, an attorney representing Stacy and others.
Toral, a U.S. Marine, is pursuing compensation for these families from the $777 million that Lafarge had previously paid to the Justice Department as part of a settlement. These funds have been held since October 2022.
“I believe the ruling from the French court is a big deal because it’s rare for companies and their executives to be held responsible for supporting terrorism,” said Toral in an interview.
To operate within ISIS-controlled regions in Syria, Lafarge reportedly paid over $6.5 million to ISIS through its Syrian branch between 2013 and 2014, allowing it to keep its production going. The cement from the Jarabiya facility was later used to construct tunnels and bunkers used by terrorist groups.
In October 2022, Lafarge settled with the U.S. Department of Justice prior to the French verdict, paying more than $777 million into a fund meant for compensating victims of ISIS acts, including many Gold Star families, such as Haley Dayton. Her father, the first American casualty of ISIS in Syria, died on Thanksgiving Day in 2016.
“I was only 15 when he was killed,” Haley recalled. “I remember thinking Dad was back to surprise us when I saw the Navy officers, but it wasn’t him.” She described her feelings when she realized, instead, that they were there to deliver tragic news.
The Biden-era Justice Department has not distributed the Lafarge funds while the case was still pending in France. Rep. Andy Biggs previously questioned the Attorney General about releasing the compensation. The Department of Justice has yet to issue those payments, with the choice now resting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Lindsey expressed that the family’s financial situation has worsened due to Kenton’s injuries, highlighting the pressing need for these funds. “Many families could really use this support. It’s been nearly nine years since this all began. Seeing justice served is important, but more importantly, we need a way to care for our families.” She added that it would mean a lot for the Justice Department to back them.
Toral emphasized the vital need for compensation for families who have suffered immeasurably, underscoring that they deserve better treatment from the country. “These families lost sons, brothers, husbands… what they’ve endured is unimaginable.”
The Department of Justice, overseeing the forfeited Lafarge funds, has pledged to compensate victims fully within legal limits, although it cannot comment on certain matters.
