Extradition of Suspects in Haitian President’s Assassination to U.S.

Eighteen suspects in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse are set for extradition to the United States. They await trial for a crime that shocked Haiti and drew international attention.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Reding Quiñones, announced that the suspects will face trial in Florida. Quiñones stated, “Today marks the next major phase in our pursuit of accountability for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.” He emphasized the continuing efforts to identify everyone involved in the crime, from financiers to those who executed the plan.

The individuals awaiting trial include over a dozen Colombian soldiers and a former Haitian government official. These details highlight the international dimension of the investigation.

Quiñones mentioned that thirty people have been indicted in the case. Special Agent Brett Skiles of the FBI noted that multiple arrests occurred both domestically and internationally. The FBI is committed to ensuring full accountability for those who sought to profit from the assassination.

The extradition aligns with ongoing prosecutions in the U.S. Earlier this year, a Florida jury convicted four men involved in the assassination plot. Prosecutors identified Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, and James Solages as key conspirators. The jury found them guilty of conspiring to kill or kidnap the Haitian leader and supporting the plot.

Martine Moïse, the former first lady, survived the attack and provided testimony in Miami federal court. Her account delivered vivid details of the assassination that took place in their home in Petionville. During her testimony, she accused former Haitian political leaders Michel Martelly and Ariel Henry of connections to her husband’s death. In 2024, a Haitian judge had indicted her on charges of complicity, which her attorney described as “ridiculous and unjust.”