Jurist Colombia national pleads guilty over role in assassination of Haitian president

[Dadparvar]

A former Colombian soldier pleaded guilty on Friday to two charges related to the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios was among a group of gunmen who attacked the president’s home in the early hours of July 7, 2021. Moise died in the attack, and the president’s wife, Martine, was injured as well. Palacios was charged in the Southern District of Florida because part of the conspiracy to murder Moise took place in that district. Specifically, Palacios was charged with violating 18 USC § 2339A, conspiracy to provide material support resulting in death, as well as 18 USC 956(a)(1), conspiracy to kill or kidnap outside the United States.

The factual proffer for the plea deal detailed how Palacios was contracted by an American security company. Palacio’s understanding was that he was hired to provide security for a future President of Haiti. When he arrived in Haiti alongside other Colombian ex-commandos, the defendant learned that their real mission was to “arrest” President Moise. According to the factual proffer:

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. The Colombian contractors took money and jewelry from the Presidential residence, and the Defendant kept some of that money and jewelry.

After an FBI-led investigation uncovered his identity, Palacios was arrested by Jamaican police outside of Kingston and brought to Miami to await trial. At the time of his arrest, Palacios had in his possession several personal items from the president’s home, including a necklace that belonged to Martine.

Other members of the conspiracy have been sentenced to life in prison for their role in a death that sent Haiti into political turmoil and created a major humanitarian crisis in the country. However, Palacios is likely to see less jail time, as the prosecutor described his role in the conspiracy as “minor”. The plea agreement advised the court that Palacios should receive a lower-than-usual sentence. The agreement said this was because the defendant “didn’t participate in the planning of the criminal activities, had no decision-making authority within the conspiracy, and expected but never received a salary for his participation.”

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