Trial Begins for 4 Men Charged in Haitian President's Assassination

Prosecutors say greed, arrogance and power drove the plot to kill Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:22am

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Four men charged in the U.S. for the 2021 assassination of Haiti's former president, Jovenel Moïse, went on trial in Miami. Federal prosecutors allege the men conspired in South Florida to kidnap or kill Moïse, whose murder led to unprecedented turmoil in Haiti. The defense argues the investigation was flawed and their clients were manipulated into taking the blame for an internal coup.

Why it matters

The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 plunged the Caribbean nation into a political crisis, with gang violence and a crumbling judicial system stalling the investigation. This trial in Miami aims to shed light on the plot and the role of these four men, who prosecutors say were driven by greed and a desire for power.

The details

Prosecutors say the four defendants - Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages - conspired in South Florida to kidnap or kill Moïse. They allege the men wanted to seize power and get rich, thinking they could "pull it off." The defense argues the investigation in Haiti was a mess and their clients were manipulated. Moïse was killed in July 2021 when about two dozen foreign mercenaries, mostly Colombians, attacked his home.

  • Moïse was killed on July 7, 2021.
  • The trial in Miami began on March 11, 2026.

The players

Jovenel Moïse

Haiti's last elected president, who was assassinated in 2021.

Arcangel Pretel Ortiz

One of the four men charged in the U.S. for the conspiracy to assassinate Moïse.

Antonio Intriago

One of the four men charged in the U.S. for the conspiracy to assassinate Moïse.

Walter Veintemilla

One of the four men charged in the U.S. for the conspiracy to assassinate Moïse.

James Solages

One of the four men charged in the U.S. for the conspiracy to assassinate Moïse, who investigators say coordinated with others including Christian Sanon.

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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

“The group was working with FBI agents, U.S. Embassy officials and members of the Haitian government in what they believed was the lawful arrest of a criminal president.”

— Emmanuel Perez, Attorney for Antonio Intriago

What’s next

The trial is expected to last more than two months, with U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra blocking out the time.

The takeaway

The assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 plunged the country into a political crisis, with this trial in Miami aiming to uncover the role of these four men in the conspiracy. The case highlights the ongoing challenges Haiti faces in investigating the murder and restoring stability in the face of gang violence and a crumbling judicial system.