Leader of Violent Haitian Gang Admits to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering Following Government’s Prosecution
Washington DC: Joly Germine, a 31-year-old resident of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, has admitted his involvement in a gunrunning scheme that illegally transported firearms to Haiti, in addition to his role in laundering ransoms paid for U.S. hostages to the notorious gang 400 Mawozo.
A network was involved in the acquisition of various firearms, such as AK-47s, AR-15s, an M4 Carbine rifle, an M1A rifle, and a .50 caliber rifle. These weapons, classified as military-grade by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), were illicitly transported from the United States to a criminal gang in Haiti. Eliande Tunis, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty on Jan. 17 to the same offenses as the co-defendant.
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The plea was made at the conclusion of the government’s case in the trial, following the testimony of 24 witnesses and two weeks of evidence. Germine, a Haitian citizen, admitted guilt in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the authority of Judge John D. Bates for the 48-count second superseding indictment. Germine has been indicted on charges of conspiring to violate U.S. export control laws and defraud the United States.
“Mr. Germain, a leader of a notorious Haitian gang, admitted to an illegal gun-running scheme to arm fellow gang members with U.S. firearms in support of the group’s violent crime spree across Haiti, including the alleged 2021 kidnapping of 14 U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
400 Mawozo is a notorious Haitian gang that operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets area, located to the east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Since January 12, 2020, 400 Mawozo has been involved in the abduction of U.S. citizens in Haiti, demanding ransom.
Victims are often coerced out of their vehicles by individuals wielding firearms, and are then held captive in different places by armed members of criminal groups. During this time, their loved ones and coworkers engage in negotiations to secure their safe release. Leader of Violent Haitian Gang Admits to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering Following Government’s Prosecution
Additionally, he is accused of violating export control laws, smuggling, and laundering the proceeds of ransoms paid to free U.S. hostages. Furthermore, he is alleged to have laundered money to further his criminal activities. He could potentially spend the rest of his life behind bars once he is sentenced on May 15.
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