In a significant development, Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, a former Colombian soldier, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. The heinous act had profound consequences, triggering violence and political instability in the Caribbean nation.
During a brief hearing before federal Judge José E. Martínez in Miami, the 45-year-old Palacios pleaded guilty to three charges, including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States. Seated alongside his attorney, Alfredo Izaguirre, Palacios acknowledged his guilt in Spanish when questioned by the judge.
Palacios becomes the fifth out of 11 defendants in Miami to plead guilty in connection with the 2021 assassination. As part of a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, he committed to providing assistance in the ongoing investigation. While he faces a potential life sentence, the prosecution acknowledged his minor role in the plot under the terms of the deal.
Attorney Izaguirre asserted after the hearing that Palacios was unaware of the full extent of the plan and played no decisive role in recruiting or decision-making within the conspiracy.
Prosecutors revealed that the initial intention of the conspirators was to kidnap President Moïse, but the plot evolved into a decision to assassinate him. Approximately 20 former Colombian soldiers and several dual Haitian American citizens were implicated in the conspiracy, with hopes of securing contracts under Moïse’s successor.
Jovenel Moïse, aged 53, was fatally shot 12 times at his residence near the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, on July 7, 2021. His wife, Martine Moïse, sustained injuries in the attack.
Three defendants have already received life sentences in connection with the case, and Joseph Vincent, a dual Haitian American national, awaits sentencing in February after pleading guilty earlier this month.
Palacios was apprehended in Jamaica in October 2021 and subsequently transported to the U.S. during a layover in Panama while en route from Jamaica to Colombia. Federal officials confirmed that they had interviewed him while he was in hiding in Jamaica.
In response to the assassination, Haitian authorities have arrested over 40 suspects, including 18 former Colombian soldiers and several high-ranking Haitian police officers. The case has faced challenges, with changes in the judicial personnel overseeing it, including concerns about personal safety.
Since Moïse’s assassination, Haiti has grappled with a surge in gang violence, prompting the prime minister to request the immediate deployment of a foreign armed force. While the U.N. Security Council approved a multinational force led by Kenya in October, the deployment has faced delays. Kenyan officials anticipate the arrival of the first group of about 300 officers by February, pending the resolution of a case seeking to block the deployment, with a decision expected in January.
