Eighteen individuals accused of participating in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse were transferred from Haiti to the United States aboard a military aircraft on Sunday, September 20, 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The group, which includes former Colombian military personnel and a former Haitian government official, will face federal charges in Miami as part of an ongoing international conspiracy case that now involves 30 formally accused defendants.
Judicial Proceedings in the Southern District of Florida
According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason A. Reding Quiñones, the transfer marks a significant new phase in the multi-year prosecution. “Today marks the following important phase in our search for justice for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse,” Quiñones stated in a public announcement. Federal prosecutors have maintained since the initial investigation that key parts of the operation’s planning, financing, and coordination took place within the United States, particularly across the southern region of Florida.
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FBI Miami Special Agent Brett Skiles added via social media that the international arrests and transfers underscore the bureau’s ongoing commitment to holding all participants accountable. According to statements released by the FBI, investigators believe the conspirators were driven by a desire to benefit from illicit financial opportunities and commercial contracts. Court proceedings for the newly arrived defendants will advance in Miami federal court.
The Attack and the Role of Former Colombian Military Personnel
President Jovenel Moïse was killed at approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 7, 2021, during an armed attack on his private residence in Port-au-Prince. According to official reports, the Haitian leader sustained 12 gunshot wounds, while his wife, First Lady Martine Moïse, survived the assault with severe injuries. Investigations following the magnicidio revealed that the core execution team largely consisted of Colombian citizens with specialized military training who had arrived in the Caribbean nation weeks prior to carry out surveillance, logistics, and the breach of the presidential compound.
While federal authorities have not yet published the complete, individual manifest of the 18 transferred defendants, prior indictments and investigative records identify several former Colombian soldiers among those detained. Named individuals in the broader conspiracy include former professional soldiers Alejandro Giraldo Zapata, John Jairo Gómez Ramírez, Víctor Albeiro Pineda Cardona, Manuel Grosso Guarín, Naiser Franco Castañeda, Enalbert Vargas Gómez, Jhon Jairo Suárez Alegría, and Francisco Eladio Uribe Ochoa. Additional accused individuals include former sub-officer Ángel Mario Yarce Sierra, retired Army Captain Germán Alejandro Rivera García, and retired Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Giovanni Guerrero.
Did You Know? The July 2021 attack on the private residence of President Jovenel Moïse involved a heavily armed team that entered the Port-au-Prince compound at 1:00 a.m., resulting in the death of the Haitian leader from 12 gunshot wounds and severe injuries to First Lady Martine Moïse.
Reporting from regional media outlets such as Vanguardia corroborated that the 18 transferred individuals were held in a Port-au-Prince prison before their extradition. Vanguardia noted that the group of 18 includes 17 former Colombian military members alongside Joseph Félix Badío, a former government official accused of serving as a key local liaison for the plot.
Future Steps in the Investigation
Federal prosecutors have indicated that the judicial inquiry is likely to expand further. According to statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, investigators intend to follow the evidence to identify all parties who financed, facilitated, or supported the conspiracy, regardless of where the trail leads.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total individuals have been charged in connection with the assassination?
According to U.S. authorities, a total of 30 individuals have been formally accused for their alleged participation in the conspiracy.
Where are the transferred defendants facing trial?
The defendants are facing federal charges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.
Who survived the July 2021 attack at the presidential residence?
First Lady Martine Moïse survived the armed assault with serious injuries, while President Jovenel Moïse died at the scene.
What specific financial networks or commercial contracts do investigators believe motivated the conspirators to target the Haitian president?
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