A Florida jury on Friday convicted four men of conspiracy in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. The trial, held in Miami, centered on allegations that South Florida served as a hub for planning and financing the plot to oust Moïse and install a replacement chosen by the conspirators.
Convictions and Charges
Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, and James Solages were found guilty of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haiti's elected leader and providing material support for the plot. They were also convicted of violating the U.S. Neutrality Act, which prohibits private individuals from engaging in hostilities against a foreign government. The defendants face possible life sentences.
Background of the Assassination
Moïse was killed on July 7, 2021, when approximately two dozen foreign mercenaries, mostly from Colombia, attacked his home near Port-au-Prince. Moïse's wife, Martine, was wounded during the attack and flown to the United States for treatment. The assassination plunged Haiti into unprecedented turmoil, with gang leaders growing increasingly violent and empowered.
The trial began nearly two months ago in Miami. Prosecutors argued that the conspirators used South Florida as a base to plan and finance the operation.
Key Figures and Companies
Ortiz and Intriago were principals of Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and Counter Terrorist Unit Security, collectively known as CTU. Veintemilla was a principal of Worldwide Capital Lending Group. Both companies were based in South Florida. Solages served as a CTU representative in Haiti, coordinating with Christian Sanon, a dual Haitian-American citizen who investigators say was initially favored by the conspirators to replace Moïse. Sanon will face trial at a later date.
At least five other individuals have pleaded guilty in the conspiracy and are serving life sentences.
