U.S. Charges Third Man Believed to Be a Suspect in Late Haiti Pres. Jovenel Moise Killing

The U.S. has charged the third man believed to be a suspect connected to the killing of Haiti's late President Jovenel Moise.

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday announced the charges against 51-year-old John Joel Joseph, per Al Jazeera.

France 24 noted that Joseph was a former senator of Haiti.

The State Department Joseph made his first court appearance on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Lois, who sits in Miami.

The former Haitian senator was extradited from Jamaica into the U.S. last Friday.

Charges Against Haiti Former Senator Over Pres. Jovenel Moise Killing

The former senator from Haiti was charged with conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the U.S. and providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending that such material support would be used to prepare for or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.

The alleged complaint that was unsealed today also revealed that Joseph was present when a co-conspirator of a former Haitian judge on a written request for assistance to further the arrest and imprisonment of former President Moise.

The complaint also mentioned that John was accused of helping obtain vehicles and attempted to obtain firearms to support the operation against Moise. Furthermore, he was accused of attending a meeting with certain co-conspirators on or about July 6, 2021, after which many co-conspirators engaged in a mission to kill the late president of Haiti.

If Joseph is convicted of his charges, the former senator of Haiti may face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The U.S. State Department noted that a federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Other Individuals Charged in Killing of Haiti's Late Pres. Jovenel Moise

Joseph was not the only key suspect in President Jovenel Moise's killing.

In January, Haitian-Chilean Rodolphe Jaar, a former U.S. government informant, was charged as the second prime suspect in the assassination of Haiti's late president.

Jaar was charged with conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the U.S. and providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending such material support would be used to prepare or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.

Jaar was also suspected of communicating with an unidentified suspect who acquired a signature from a former judge in a bid to illegally arrest the late Haiti President Jovenel Moise.

The said co-conspirator, named "co-conspirator #1," is still in the custody of Haiti authorities.

It can be recalled that more than 40 suspects, including 19 former Colombian soldiers, were arrested and detained after Haiti's late President Jovenel Moise was killed in his home in Port-au-Prince on July 7 last year.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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