Haiti Sends 18 Moïse Assassination Suspects to Face U.S. Proceedings
Bharatmorning.com – Eighteen people arrested in connection with the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse were awaiting extradition to the United States on Sunday, shifting a long-running case from Haiti’s overwhelmed justice system to federal courts in Florida.
The move represents a major development in the investigation into the killing that stunned Haiti and intensified concerns over the country’s political instability, security crisis and weakened institutions. Moïse was shot dead at his private residence in July 2021.
Jason Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said the suspects will stand trial in Florida. He did not publicly name the 18 people being transferred.
“Today marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability,” Quiñones wrote on X.
He said investigators would continue tracing responsibility beyond those accused of directly taking part in the operation, including anyone alleged to have financed, enabled or supported the plot. Thirty people have been indicted in the broader case, he said.
Years of Delays in Haiti
The extraditions follow years of stalled proceedings in Haiti, where judges, investigators and court staff have faced mounting danger. More than a dozen former Colombian soldiers, a former Haitian police officer and a former employee of Haiti’s Ministry of Justice are among people who had remained in the country while awaiting legal action.
Relatives of several Colombian suspects did not immediately comment Sunday. In earlier statements, family members had criticized repeated postponements after the men were detained in 2021.
Haiti’s investigation was repeatedly disrupted by gang violence, threats against judicial officials and the deterioration of the court system. Judges assigned to the case resigned amid fears for their safety, while armed groups took control of the downtown Port-au-Prince courthouse where suspects were being questioned.
In October 2025, Haitian justice officials sought assistance from the United States and Canada after a local appeals court called for another investigation. It was the third such inquiry into Moïse’s killing, following earlier efforts that failed to advance because of the worsening security situation.
The difficulty of moving the case through Haitian courts illustrates the wider challenge facing the country: major criminal investigations can be hindered not only by legal complexity, but also by the inability of public institutions to operate safely and consistently.
U.S. Cases Already Underway
American authorities have continued pursuing suspects connected to the alleged conspiracy. In May, a Florida jury convicted four men: Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages. All had entered not-guilty pleas.
The jury found them guilty of conspiracy to kill or kidnap Haiti’s elected leader and of providing material support for the alleged scheme. At least five additional defendants have pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court and are serving life sentences.
Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American citizen, is still awaiting trial. Authorities have alleged that conspirators initially intended for Sanon to replace Moïse after the president was removed from power.
Prosecutors have said the plan contemplated Sanon awarding contracts to CTU for infrastructure work, security services and military equipment after taking office. CTU referred to Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and Counter Terrorist Unit Security.
Ortiz and Intriago were principals of CTU, while Veintemilla was a principal of Worldwide Capital Lending Group. Both businesses operated from South Florida, placing part of the alleged conspiracy within the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.
Other defendants who previously admitted guilt include a retired Colombian army officer and a Haitian-Chilean businessman who had once worked as an informant for the U.S. government.
Investigation Continues Beyond the Extraditions
FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles said arrests were made in the United States and abroad on Sunday. He said investigators remain focused on ensuring that everyone accused of seeking to benefit from the assassination is held accountable.
“We will follow the evidence wherever it leads,” Quiñones said.
Several important figures remain beyond the reach of authorities. Among the fugitives is Dimitri Hérard, the former head of security at Haiti’s National Palace. Hérard escaped last year after a powerful gang federation attacked Haiti’s two largest prisons.
The transfer of 18 suspects to the United States does not close the investigation. Instead, it opens a new phase in a case that spans Haiti, Colombia, South Florida and other locations, with prosecutors still working to establish who organized the killing, how it was financed and who may have expected to profit from a change in Haiti’s leadership.
For Haiti, the extraditions may offer a path toward proceedings that have been difficult to sustain at home. For the victims of the assassination and a country still dealing with its consequences, the cases in Florida are likely to remain a central test of whether the full network behind Moïse’s death can ultimately be brought before a court.
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