4 Men Charged in Haitian President's Assassination Go on Trial in Miami

Prosecutors say greed, arrogance and power drove the plot to kill Jovenel Moïse.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 9:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Four men charged in the U.S. for the 2021 assassination of Haiti's last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, went on trial in Miami on Tuesday. Federal prosecutors allege the defendants - Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages - conspired in South Florida to kidnap or kill Moïse, driven by greed and a desire for power. The defense argued the investigation in Haiti was flawed and their clients were manipulated into taking the blame.

Why it matters

Moïse's assassination plunged Haiti into unprecedented turmoil, with gang violence and a crumbling judicial system stalling the investigation. This trial in the U.S. is a high-profile attempt to hold some of the alleged conspirators accountable for the killing of Haiti's last elected president.

The details

Prosecutors say the defendants wanted to seize power and get rich, thinking they could pull off the assassination plot. They allege the group met in South Florida in April 2021 and agreed that, once in power, a dual Haitian-U.S. citizen named Christian Sanon would award contracts to the defendants' companies. The conspirators also spent months obtaining weapons and body armor and attempting to build relationships with Haitian gangs. However, the defense claims the group was working with U.S. officials and had a real arrest warrant for Moïse, who they believed was a criminal president.

  • Moïse was killed on July 7, 2021.
  • The defendants met in South Florida in April 2021 to plan the plot.
  • Sanon's trial will be scheduled later.

The players

Arcangel Pretel Ortiz

One of the four defendants charged in the U.S. for the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Antonio Intriago

One of the four defendants charged in the U.S. for the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Walter Veintemilla

One of the four defendants charged in the U.S. for the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

James Solages

One of the four defendants charged in the U.S. for the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

Christian Sanon

A dual Haitian-U.S. citizen whom the conspirators initially favored to replace Moïse as president of Haiti.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“So arrogant and confident in themselves, the evidence will show, and thinking so little of the Republic of Haiti and its people, they actually thought they could pull it off.”

— Sean McLaughlin, Assistant U.S. Attorney

“Once you get off on the wrong foot, everything that comes after is hard to trust.”

— Orlando do Campo, Attorney for Arcangel Pretel Ortiz

What’s next

The trial is expected to last more than two months. Martine Moïse, the widow of the slain president, is set to continue testifying on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This high-profile trial in the U.S. is a crucial step in holding some of the alleged conspirators accountable for the assassination of Haiti's last elected president, which plunged the country into unprecedented turmoil. The outcome could have significant implications for Haiti's stability and the pursuit of justice for Moïse's killing.