Five charged in 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse face trial in South Florida

Jury selection begins Monday for alleged conspirators accused of plotting the killing from the U.S.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Jury selection is set to begin in South Florida on Monday for the federal trial of five men charged in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. The defendants, including U.S. and Haitian citizens, are accused of conspiring in the U.S. to kidnap or kill Moïse and replace him with someone of their choosing. They face possible life sentences if convicted.

Why it matters

The assassination of President Moïse plunged Haiti into political and economic turmoil, with the country still grappling with the fallout over two years later. This trial in the U.S. is a key part of the ongoing investigation, as South Florida served as a central hub for planning and financing the plot.

The details

The five defendants - Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, Christian Sanon and James Solages - are charged with conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or kill Moïse, plus related charges. They all pleaded not guilty. Five others have already pleaded guilty and are serving life sentences, while a sixth person received 9 years for providing body armor to the conspirators.

  • Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • The trial was previously set for last year but was delayed due to discovery challenges and the large volume of evidence.

The players

Arcangel Pretel Ortiz

One of the five defendants charged in the assassination conspiracy.

Antonio Intriago

One of the five defendants charged in the assassination conspiracy.

Walter Veintemilla

One of the five defendants charged in the assassination conspiracy.

Christian Sanon

A dual Haitian-American citizen who investigators say was initially favored by the conspirators to replace Moïse as president.

James Solages

A CTU representative in Haiti who coordinated with Sanon and others, according to officials.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the defendants out on bail.

The takeaway

This trial in the U.S. is a critical part of the ongoing investigation into the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, which plunged the country into political and economic turmoil. The defendants face possible life sentences if convicted of conspiring in the U.S. to kidnap or kill Moïse.