Full Breakdown
Four Men Convicted in Florida for Plotting Haitian President’s Assassination
5/9/2026, 12:58:11 AM
Verdict and Plot
A Miami federal jury on May 8, 2026 convicted Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages of conspiring to kill or kidnap Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Prosecutors said the men hired over two dozen former Colombian soldiers, funded and equipped them, and used South Florida as the planning hub for the July 7, 2021 raid that killed Moïse. They were also found guilty of providing material support for a foreign terrorist organization and violating the U.S. Neutrality Act, each facing a possible life sentence.
Background to the 2021 Killing
Moïse’s assassination left Haiti without a president. No national elections have been held since July 2021; a provisional council appointed in September 2024 was replaced by U.S.-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who pledged elections by year-end. The United Nations warned a stable government is essential to curb the surge in gang violence.
Key Figures & Groups
Ortiz and Intriago owned Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) firms; Veintemilla led Worldwide Capital Lending Group. A fifth suspect, Haitian-born doctor Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who allegedly sought the presidency, will be tried later due to health issues. Five others have pleaded guilty in related U.S. conspiracies and serve life sentences.
Data & Statistics
UN data show 8,100 gang killings in 2025 and about 1.5 million displaced. In Haiti, 20 suspects—including 17 former Colombian soldiers—face charges linked to the 2021 attack. Insecurity hampers judicial processes and election planning.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said the defendants pursued power, influence, and profit through violence and destabilized a friendly nation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Wu said the motive was to install a puppet government.
Criticism & Opposition
Defense lawyer Emmanuel Perez argued the men were scapegoated, saying they acted on a Haitian arrest warrant because Moïse had overstayed his term. The defense said the Colombian mercenaries arrived to execute the warrant, but Moïse was already dead, and criticized Haitian evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prosecutors say the plot escalated from an arrest attempt to assassination; the defense insists the intent remained a lawful arrest. Jake Johnston of the Center for Economic and Policy Research warned the Miami case is only a small sliver of a broader, unresolved network.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Honey, we are dead.” — Jovenel Moïse, as recounted by Martine Moïse
- “This is a Haitian plot, and it is a Haitian conspiracy,” — Emmanuel Perez, defense attorney
- “These defendants pursued power, influence, and profit through violence,” — Jason Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney
- “Why this awful cruelty, this shocking brutality? So they could install a puppet as Haiti’s president,” — Jason Wu, assistant U.S. attorney
What’s Next
Sanon’s trial is pending, and Haitian authorities continue to prosecute additional suspects. International observers stress that credible elections and a functional security apparatus are essential to end the country’s prolonged instability.
