The suspects involved in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse faced extradition to the U.S. on Sunday. This marks the end of a prolonged judicial process in Haiti for a crime that deeply impacted the Caribbean nation. They will undergo trial in Florida as directed by Reding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Quiñones expressed on X that this event represents a significant phase in their quest for justice regarding the assassination. ‘We will follow the evidence wherever it leads, to those who financed it, facilitated it, supported it or committed crimes to make it possible,’ he stated. Official efforts to bring those responsible for the assassination to account continue. Quiñones did not disclose the names of the suspects, but they include former Colombian soldiers and a Haitian government official.
On January 27, 2025, Colombian suspects, allegedly involved in the assassination, appeared at a court hearing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles mentioned that 30 individuals have been indicted in Moïse’s killing. He remarked that the FBI and other task forces are committed to ensuring all those connected to the assassination are held accountable. Recent efforts have led to multiple arrests in the U.S. and internationally.
The extradition aligns with ongoing U.S. prosecution and sentencing of various suspects related to the case. In May, a Florida jury convicted four men for the murder. Additionally, five others have pleaded guilty, resulting in life sentences. The individuals recently convicted include Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, and James Solages. They were convicted of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haiti’s elected leader and offering material support for the scheme.
Martine Moïse
The former first lady, Martine Moïse, survived the attack and provided testimony in a Miami federal court in March. Emotionally recounting the night’s events, she accused former Haitian leaders Michel Martelly and Ariel Henry of ties to the assassination. In 2024, a Haitian judge charged Martine Moïse with complicity and criminal association. Her lawyer called these charges groundless and unjust.
The case remains a pivotal event in Haiti’s recent history, with significant diplomatic and legal repercussions continuing as the investigation unfolds.
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