Jury Selection Begins for 5 Charged in 2021 Assassination of Haitian President

The federal trial in South Florida involves men accused of conspiring to kill President Jovenel Moïse.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jury selection is set to begin on Monday in the U.S. federal trial of five men charged in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, Christian Sanon and James Solages are accused of conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or kill Haiti's former leader, plus related charges. They face possible life sentences and have all pleaded not guilty.

Why it matters

The assassination of President Moïse in 2021 plunged Haiti into further political and economic turmoil. This trial in South Florida aims to hold some of the key conspirators accountable, though the investigation has been hampered by ongoing gang violence, death threats, and a crumbling judicial system in Haiti.

The details

According to court documents, South Florida served as a central location for planning and financing the plot to oust Moïse and replace him with someone of the conspirators' choosing. The five defendants are accused of being involved in the conspiracy through their companies and connections in South Florida and Haiti. Investigators say the conspirators initially favored Christian Sanon to replace Moïse, but later backed Wendelle Coq Thélot, a former Haitian Superior Court judge, before her death in 2025.

  • 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.
  • Moïse was assassinated on July 7, 2021.

The players

Arcangel Pretel Ortiz

One of the five men charged in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Antonio Intriago

One of the five men charged in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Walter Veintemilla

One of the five men charged in the conspiracy to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

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.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Monday whether to allow the trial to proceed as scheduled.

The takeaway

This trial represents a key step in seeking accountability for the brazen assassination of Haiti's president, though the broader investigation has faced significant challenges due to the country's ongoing instability and violence.