On Tuesday, May 10, 2022, ex-leader of the "400 Mawozo" gang Joly Germine (29), aka "Yonyon", was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on charges of conspiracy to commit a kidnapping and for his role in the armed abduction of 16 American citizens including 5 children, including an 8-month-old baby in Haiti on October 16, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35012-haiti-flash-at-least-fifteen-american-missionaries-kidnapped-in-port-au-prince.html The victims were Christian missionaries serving in Haiti and most of them were held captive for 61 days before being achieve "escape".

Lert's recall that the Haitian government authorized the transfer of Germine to the United States on May 3rd, 2022 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36576-haiti-flash-the-powerful-leader-of-the-400-wawozo-gang-extradited-to-the-usa.html . He was under International Warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for the following counts: Conspiracy and violation of the United States Export Control and Contraband Reform Act; Importation of weapons of war https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36596-haiti-usa-3-haitians-and-an-american-charged-with-having-provided-weapons-and-ammunition-to-the-gang-400-mawozo.html ; Kidnapping followed by sequestration against ransom of Américains citizens.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert, with assistance from paralegal specialist Jorge Casillas and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Deeley from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

According to the indictment, Germine, who was in a Haitian prison at the time of the kidnapping, directed and claimed control of the operations of the kidnapping by members of the "400 Mawozo" gang, including the negotiation of a ransom for the release of the hostages. One of the gang's stated purposes in holding the hostages was to obtain from the Haitian government the release of Germine from prison.

United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. Said "This case shows that the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to track down anyone who kidnaps a U.S. citizen abroad..."

FBI Director Christopher Wray commented, "Today’s indictment demonstrates that the United States will not tolerate crime against our citizens, here or abroad," adding, "The FBI will continue to work aggressively with our international partners to keep our citizens safe and bring perpetrators to justice."

Note : Let's recall in the United States the charges in the indictment are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty without of any reasonable doubt by a court. If convicted of an offence, an accused's sentence will be determined by the court based on the sentencing advisory guidelines and other statutory factors.

Read also about the kidnapping of American missionaries :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35658-haiti-flash-a-ransom-was-paid-for-the-release-of-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35529-haiti-flash-the-400-mawozo-gang-did-not-release-the-12-hostages-they-escaped.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35497-haiti-flash-the-gang-400-mawozo-released-all-the-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35513-haiti-flash-christian-aid-ministries-forgives-the-kidnappers-of-the-17-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35417-haiti-flash-3-new-american-hostages-released.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35299-haiti-flash-2-of-the-17-kidnapped-american-hostages-released.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35204-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35112-icihaiti-insecurity-the-pnh-has-proof-that-the-16-american-hostages-are-alive.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35094-haiti-flash-joe-biden-sends-a-large-number-of-specialists-to-release-the-american-hostages-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35061-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35053-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35037-haiti-flash-the-gang-400-mawozo-demands-one-million-dollars-for-the-release-of-each-american-hostage.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35028-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35012-haiti-flash-at-least-fifteen-american-missionaries-kidnapped-in-port-au-prince.html

SL/ HaitiLibre