The United States government has taken custody of 18 defendants to face newly unsealed federal charges related to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021. They were transported from Haiti to Miami in a special operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation's elite Hostage Rescue Team, FBI Miami case agents, and Homeland Security Investigations agents. The operation was conducted to ensure safe transportation due to potential armed gang attacks around the Port-au-Prince airport.
The 18 individuals are among the 30 defendants indicted by a Southern District of Florida grand jury. The charges include fraud and a money laundering scheme that used COVID-19 relief funds to finance their plot. According to the Department of Justice, the military aircraft deployed for the operation was a precautionary measure to handle potential threats. The extradition marks a significant phase in the pursuit of accountability for President Moïse's murder.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Reding Quiñones, emphasized that the extradition is part of a broader effort to hold accountable those who planned, carried out, and supported the assassination. "Our work did not end with the men who planned and carried out this assassination. We will follow the evidence to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it, or committed crimes to make it possible," he said.
The unsealed court documents reveal that at least 22 newly named defendants directly engaged in a multinational conspiracy involving financing, recruitment, and logistical support for the assassination. The alleged conspirators coordinated funding for weapons and resources, traveled to and from Haiti during planning stages, and used encrypted communications to organize the operation. Some defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean McLaughlin, Jason Wu, and Altanese Phenelus, with assistance from FBI Miami and HSI Miami, as well as Haitian law enforcement and international partners. The investigation and prosecution of the case demonstrate the commitment of domestic and international partners to hold accountable those who sought to profit from the fatal attack.
In May, four defendants were found guilty of participating in the killing of Moïse. A federal jury in Miami convicted Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, James Solages, and Walter Veintemilla for providing material support. The convictions and extradition of the 18 defendants demonstrate the ongoing efforts to bring those responsible for the assassination to justice.
The respective prison terms for the defendants will be determined by a federal judge after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office reiterated the commitment of domestic and international partners to ensure that all who sought to profit from the fatal attack are held fully accountable.
Key points
- The US government has taken custody of 18 defendants charged in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
- The defendants face federal charges, including fraud and money laundering, for their roles in the assassination.
- The extradition marks a significant phase in the pursuit of accountability for President Moïse's murder.
