A Colombian national, previously serving as a soldier, named Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios has entered a guilty plea to two charges linked to the assassination of Jovenel Moise, the president of Haiti, in 2021. Palacios, as part of a group of gunmen, infiltrated the president’s home in the wee hours of July 7, 2021, resulting in the death of Moise and injuring his wife, Martine. His trial was held in the Southern District of Florida due to the conspiracy to murder Moise being partially planned in this district.
Charges specific to Palacios included violations of 18 USC § 2339A, which pertains to the conspiracy to provide material support resulting in death, along with 18 USC 956(a)(1), covering conspiracy to murder or kidnap outside the territories of the United States.
According to the factual proffer for Palacios’ plea agreement, he was initially contracted by an American security company under the claim that he was appointed to provide security for the upcoming President of Haiti. It was not until his arrival in Haiti, with fellow Colombian ex-commandos, that he was made aware of the real mission — to “arrest” President Moise.
The agreement itself states, “By at least July 6, 2021, the Defendant had been informed that the Colombian contractors would be conducting an operation at the Presidential residence. Before the beginning of the operation, the Defendant was also told that the President was going to die. On July 7, 2021, the Defendant and others entered the Presidential residence, and in fact the President was killed.” It’s noted that the group did not leave empty-handed, lifting money and jewelry from the residence, with Palacios apparently taking some of these items for himself.
Following an FBI-led investigation, Palacios was eventually located and arrested by Jamaican police close to Kingston, and was then transported to Miami to await his trial. When arrested, items from the president’s residence, including a necklace belonging to the president’s wife, Martine, were found in his possession.
Although other members of the same conspiracy have been sentenced to life imprisonment due to their involvement in a crime that led Haiti into a political upheaval and severe humanitarian crisis, the case with Palacios isn’t as strict. The prosecutor has described his role in the conspiracy as “minor”, which makes it likely for him to see a less sever punishment. The plea agreement also suggested a lower-than-standard sentence due to Palacios’ lack of involvement in planning the criminal activities, absence of decision-making roles within the conspiracy, and his expectation to receive but non-receipt of a salary for his participation.
Full details of the case can be found on Jurist News.