Four men convicted in Miami in plot tied to President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination

Four men were convicted Friday in Miami federal court for their roles in a conspiracy tied to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, whose killing deepened Haiti’s political instability and worsening gang violence.

A federal jury found Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages guilty of conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or kill Moïse.

Moïse was assassinated in the early hours of July 7, 2021, when armed men stormed his private residence near Port-au-Prince. Haitian and U.S. authorities said the group included mostly Colombian mercenaries.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that South Florida became a key base for planning and financing the operation. According to court records, conspirators sought to remove Moïse from power and replace him with a leader they supported.

The assassination plunged Haiti into deeper turmoil. Since Moïse’s death, gangs have expanded their control across much of Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country, contributing to widespread displacement and political paralysis.