Florida Pastor Stands Trial for Haitian President Jovenel Moise Assassination

The trial represents a critical juncture in a sprawling international investigation. For years, the vacuum left by Moise’s death has fueled a security collapse in Haiti, where armed gangs now control vast territories. This case aims to uncover the South Florida financial and logistical networks that prosecutors claim orchestrated the hit from U.S. soil.

South Florida Logistics and the Plot

Sanon’s background is a mix of medicine and ministry. Born in southern Haiti, he studied medicine in the Dominican Republic before relocating to Florida, according to local media outlets.

The evidence against Sanon includes findings from a search of his home conducted by Haitian authorities shortly after the 2021 attack. Police recovered 19 passports and boxes of ammunition.

The July 7 Attack and Testimony from Martine Moise

The core of the trial focuses on the events of July 7, 2021, when armed men stormed President Moise’s home near Port-au-Prince and shot him dead in his bedroom. Among the witnesses expected to testify in Miami is Martine Moise, the president’s widow, who survived the attack.

Several convicted defendants have pointed to Sanon as one of the ringleaders of the operation.

Political Instability and the December Election

Haiti has not had an elected president since Moise.

Expansion of U.S. Indictments and Legal Timeline

Sanon was originally expected to be the last defendant in the Miami case.