On Sunday, a U.S. military aircraft touched down at Miami International Airport with eighteen men and women shackled and guarded by FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents. The detainees are alleged participants in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and are now in the custody of the federal justice system.
Federal authorities detail the case
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the transfer marks the latest step in an 18‑month “blitz” to capture high‑value foreign suspects. According to the FBI’s Miami field office, the defendants were moved from Haitian custody to the United States because the conspiracy was largely organized and financed in South Florida.
Prosecutors allege the plot was funded through fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans obtained during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The loans, intended to help small businesses survive the pandemic, were allegedly used to purchase weapons, tactical gear and to hire Colombian mercenaries who carried out the killing inside President Moïse’s private residence.
Charges and alleged conduct
The indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida lists charges of conspiracy to kill or kidnap a person abroad, wire fraud and other related offenses. Some suspects are also accused of impersonating federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration in order to gain access to the Haitian presidential palace.
Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles described the motive as “greed,” noting that several of the accused owned businesses in the United States and hoped to secure lucrative contracts from the Haitian government after a regime change.
Statements from officials
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones told reporters that the investigation demonstrates the government’s commitment to holding accountable anyone who uses taxpayer funds to facilitate murder. “This assassination plot was planned, financed, and conspired here in Miami,” he said.
Haitian Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier confirmed that the suspects were transferred from Haiti to the United States, adding that Haitian judicial proceedings have been delayed for years and have yet to result in a trial.
Human‑rights activist Pierre Espérance called the transfer a “disgrace for the Haitian justice system,” urging Haiti to strengthen its courts so such cases can be tried domestically.
Local impact
The arrival of the suspects has drawn significant media attention to Miami, highlighting the city’s role as a hub for federal law‑enforcement operations. While cameras are prohibited inside the federal courtroom, the exclusive footage from the tarmac provides the public with a rare glimpse of the high‑profile transfer.
The four ringleaders of the plot were previously convicted in Miami in May and face life sentences. Their convictions, along with today’s transfer, underscore the ongoing effort to dismantle transnational criminal networks that threaten both U.S. and foreign security.
Next steps
The defendants are scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Miami on Monday. Their cases will proceed through the federal court system, where they could face decades in prison if convicted.
The FBI’s successful capture of the suspects demonstrates the agency’s capacity to pursue complex, cross‑border crimes and to protect American interests abroad.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
