18 suspects flown to Miami to face charges in Haitian president’s assassination
Eighteen people accused in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been flown from Haiti to Miami to face federal charges, according to U.S. prosecutors. Authorities allege that money stolen from U.S. pandemic relief programs helped pay for the plot.
The transfer was announced on Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. FBI and Homeland Security Investigations agents, including members of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, accompanied the defendants on a military aircraft equipped for possible gang attacks around the airport in Port-au-Prince.
The defendants are among 30 people indicted in the case. Prosecutors allege that the plot brought together Florida businessmen, Colombian mercenaries and others who expected to gain money and contracts after Moïse was removed from power.
Moïse was assassinated at his home in Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021. The indictment says the attackers arrived in a convoy and posed as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.
Two Florida security businesses known as the CTU companies and a collection of businesses called Worldwide Group allegedly recruited and financed Colombian mercenaries in anticipation of obtaining Haitian infrastructure and security contracts.
Among those charged is Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Palm Beach County resident who wanted to become Haiti’s president, according to the indictment. Prosecutors say he worked with the companies and mercenaries on a plan to kill or kidnap Moïse.
The indictment describes how money intended to help American businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly reached those backing the operation.
Loan brokers and business owners are accused of submitting false employee counts, payroll figures and other information to obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Brokers also allegedly persuaded borrowers and other investors to put money into nonexistent real estate and business ventures by promising high returns.
Prosecutors say some of those funds were then directed to the CTU and Worldwide companies to support the plot. The indictment identifies a $150,000 transfer of PPP money in May 2021 and transfers totaling about $132,500 during May and June that included disaster-loan proceeds.
Byron Sherrod Rainer, a Broward County resident described as a loan broker, faces charges in both the assassination and fraud conspiracies, along with a money-laundering conspiracy charge. Three others, Jameela Ammara Simmons, Marcel Williamson and Travis Barrett Nave, are charged with conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud.
The alleged preparations included a $175,000 credit line to CTU, a $9,145 payment for about 18 Colombians with military training to travel to Haiti, and a $15,000 transfer to buy ammunition.
Ballistic vests were also shipped from Florida to Haiti in June 2021 under paperwork describing them as “medical x-ray vests” worth about $1,000, according to the indictment. Sanon allegedly arranged for the shipment to reach the Colombians in Haiti.
Other defendants include Joseph Felix Badio, who prosecutors accuse of taking part in the assassination while posing as a DEA agent, and Vitel’Homme Innocent, identified in the indictment as a leader of the Kraze Baryé gang. The gang leader allegedly helped plan the overthrow and helped two participants escape after the killing.
“We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it, or committed crimes to make it possible,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said.
The charges include conspiring to kill or kidnap someone outside the United States and providing material support to a conspiracy resulting in death. Some defendants face life in prison if convicted.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
