Ex-Haitian Official and 17 Alleged Mercenaries Appear in Miami Court in 2021 Assassination Case

MIAMI — A former Haitian government official and 17 other defendants appeared Monday in federal court in Miami on charges tied to the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Joseph Badio, a former employee of Haiti's Ministry of Justice, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. He and 17 others described by U.S. authorities as Colombian mercenaries were flown to the United States from Haiti the day before after being held in custody there. The 18 are part of a wider indictment that names 30 people in connection with the plot.

Allegations and Key Figures

The indictment alleges that the plotters sought to remove Moïse and install a successor of their choosing, and that South Florida served as a coordination and financing hub for parts of the conspiracy. Among those charged is Christian Sanon, a dual Haitian-American resident of Palm Beach County who had publicly expressed political ambitions and was already preparing for trial.

"He was assassinated by individuals seeking to profit from illicit financial opportunities and business contracts," said U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones, summarizing the prosecutors' account of the case.

Details From the Indictment

Prosecutors say about two dozen foreign mercenaries, most from Colombia, attacked Moïse's private residence near Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021; the president was shot multiple times and his wife, Martine Moïse, was also wounded. The indictment asserts that some mercenaries were paid using funds diverted from U.S. government COVID-19 relief programs intended to help businesses.

FILE - Colombians and Haitians who are accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise are escorted in handcuffs to their court hearing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)(AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Badio is charged with conspiracy and is accused of impersonating a U.S. drug agent as part of the operation. He previously worked in Haiti's anti-corruption unit and was dismissed for alleged ethics violations in the weeks before the assassination. A court-appointed attorney temporarily representing him could not be reached for comment.

Haiti's Ongoing Judicial and Security Crisis

Haitian efforts to fully investigate the assassination have been repeatedly hampered. At least three separate probes have been opened since 2021; the latest came after a Haitian appeals court ordered a renewed inquiry in 2025 and justice officials asked the U.S. and Canada for assistance. Previous investigations stalled as judges resigned, citing safety concerns, and gangs seized control of the Port-au-Prince courthouse where suspects were being questioned.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security warned that proceedings in Haiti "continue to face significant difficulties." Since Moïse's death, Haiti has lacked a stable presidency and has seen rising gang violence: the U.N. reported that by June more than 3,000 people had been killed this year and roughly 1.5 million displaced.

Court Proceedings

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid conducted brief appearances for the 18 defendants, assigning lawyers and setting additional court dates after short exchanges with each person. Authorities say at least nine people connected to the broader case have already been convicted either at trial or through guilty pleas.

AP writer Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.