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Miami court receives 18 defendants in Jovenel Moïse assassination case
Eighteen defendants accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse have been transferred from Haiti to Miami to face U.S. federal charges. The group includes 17 Colombian citizens, primarily former military personnel, and Joseph Félix Badio, a former official with the Haitian Ministry of Justice.
The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid, where they were assigned court-appointed attorneys. They face charges including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and providing material support resulting in death. Some charges carry the possibility of life imprisonment.
The transfer follows years of judicial delays in Haiti. U.S. federal prosecutors describe the operation as a new phase in seeking accountability for the assassination. Investigations are expanding, with a new federal indictment also naming Vitel’homme Innocent, leader of the Kraze Barye gang, for his alleged role in the conspiracy.
Court documents suggest that South Florida served as a central hub for planning and financing the plot to overthrow President Moïse. Additionally, investigators have indicated that some conspirators may have used COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to finance the assassination.
Entities
Joseph Félix Badio · Jovenel Moïse · Kraze Barye · Lisette Reid · U.S. Department of Justice · Vitel’homme Innocent
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The transfer of 18 defendants to Miami marks a new phase in the investigation into the assassination of Jovenel Moïse. cubanosporelmundo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Conspirators allegedly used COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to finance the assassination plot. www.diariolibre.com
- [DISPUTED] The group of 18 transferred defendants includes 17 Colombian citizens and one former Haitian official. cubanosporelmundo.com · timescaribbeanonline.com · www.diariolibre.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The operation to transfer the detainees involved the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and Homeland Security Investigations agents. cubanosporelmundo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] A federal grand jury has indicted 30 people in connection with the assassination of Jovenel Moïse. cubanosporelmundo.com · www.diariolibre.com
- [DISPUTED] Joseph Félix Badio, a former Haitian Ministry of Justice official, was among those transferred to Miami. cubanosporelmundo.com · timescaribbeanonline.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The defendants face federal charges including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States. www.diariolibre.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vitel’homme Innocent, leader of the Kraze Barye gang, is named in a new federal indictment related to the conspiracy.