Four Men Convicted In Florida Over Plot To Assassinate Haiti President
A federal jury in Florida on Friday, May 8, 2026 convicted four men over the July 7, 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, finding them guilty of plotting and supporting the raid. Florida jury convicts 4 men
The defendants — Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages — were convicted of conspiracy to kill or kidnap, providing material support and violating the U.S. Neutrality Act. Prosecutors said South Florida served as the financing and planning hub, using a Miami-area security firm and a local lending group to recruit and pay mostly Colombian mercenaries. The operation used the Counter Terrorist Unit security firm, and prosecutors say the conspirators intended to replace Moïse with Florida-based pastor Christian Sanon who would profit from the new government. Moïse's widow, Martine Moïse, testified she was shot during the home invasion and later flown to the U.S. for treatment.
The episode traces back to political turmoil under Moïse's presidency, including mass protests over alleged corruption and the collapse of Haiti's parliament that left him ruling by decree. Florida-based pastor Christian Sanon began plotting in early 2021 to remove Moïse and install himself, recruiting South Florida contacts and Colombian ex-soldiers. What began as a purported arrest using a dubious warrant evolved into the July 7, 2021 raid that left the president dead.
U.S. investigators traced the plot to Miami and brought federal charges in 2022, a case that has wound through pretrial litigation and international arrests and now culminated in Friday's guilty verdicts. Many observers said the convictions mark a step toward accountability for an act that plunged Haiti into deeper political crisis and widespread violence.
The mainstream summary does not mention the staggering escalation of gang violence in Haiti since the assassination of President Moïse, which has resulted in over 16,000 deaths and displaced 1.3 million people since 2022, according to reports from the United Nations and The Haitian Times. This context is crucial, as it highlights the immediate and ongoing consequences of the political vacuum created by Moïse's assassination, a factor that many analysts argue has exacerbated Haiti's instability.
While the mainstream coverage frames the convictions as a step towards accountability, it downplays the broader implications of the assassination on Haiti's governance and public safety. The Council on Foreign Relations notes that the assassination triggered a power vacuum, allowing gangs to expand their control significantly, which has led to a collapse of institutional trust and state authority. This deeper analysis emphasizes that the convictions alone may not stabilize Haiti, as the underlying issues of governance and security remain unaddressed.
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📊 Relevant Data
Gang violence in Haiti killed at least 5,601 people in 2024, an increase of over 1,000 from the total killings recorded in 2023.
Haiti: Over 5,600 killed in gang violence in 2024, UN figures show — Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Gang violence has internally displaced a record 1.3 million people in Haiti, with much of the displacement centered in Port-au-Prince.
UN finds that gang violence displaced a record 1.3 million people in Haiti — Associated Press
More than 16,000 people have been killed in gang violence in Haiti since the escalation began in 2022 following the 2021 assassination.
UN report: Over 16,000 killed in Haiti’s gang violence, half a million displaced — The Haitian Times
📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, May 8, 2026, a federal jury in Florida convicted four men over the July 7, 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
- Defendants Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages were found guilty of conspiracy to kill or kidnap, providing material support and violating the U.S. Neutrality Act.
- Prosecutors said South Florida served as the financing and planning hub for the operation, using a Miami-area security firm, Counter Terrorist Unit, and a local lending group.
- The conspirators intended to replace Moïse with dual Haitian-American Christian Sanon and profit financially from the new government.
- Moïse’s widow, Martine, gave eyewitness testimony about the home invasion, during which she was wounded and later flown to the U.S. for treatment.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time