In a stunning development in the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, federal prosecutors have revealed that money fraudulently obtained from American COVID-19 relief programs helped finance the deadly conspiracy that claimed the leader’s life.
The revelation comes as 18 men accused of involvement in the 2021 assassination appeared before a federal judge in Miami on Monday, September 21, 2026, following their transfer from Haiti to United States custody.
The suspects, including 17 Colombian nationals and former Haitian government official Joseph Félix Badio, were transported to Florida aboard a U.S. military aircraft on Sunday. Their arrival marks a significant development in the five-year investigation into the killing.
How COVID Relief Money Allegedly Funded the Assassination
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, funds obtained through fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications were laundered and used to support the plot against Moïse.
Investigators traced hundreds of thousands of dollars through financial transactions linked to the conspiracy. The money helped finance an operation involving Colombian mercenaries who attacked the president’s residence in Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021.
Moïse was fatally shot, while his wife, Martine Moïse, was seriously wounded during the attack.
In July 2026, South Florida financier Keegan Harricharan was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to laundering fraudulent pandemic relief funds connected to the assassination conspiracy.
EXCLUSIVE: Federal prosecutors allege money stolen from U.S. taxpayers through COVID relief fraud helped bankroll the assassination of Haiti’s president.
Eighteen men accused in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse face a federal judge in Miami today after… pic.twitter.com/WFZMB958sT
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 21, 2026
18 Suspects Face American Justice
The latest court appearances bring renewed attention to a case that has faced repeated delays in Haiti.
Federal authorities say 30 individuals have been indicted in connection with the assassination, with several already convicted in American courts.
During Monday’s proceedings, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid assigned attorneys to the newly transferred defendants and scheduled additional court appearances.
The latest defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Five years after Moïse’s assassination, the investigation continues as American authorities pursue those accused of organizing, financing and carrying out the deadly conspiracy.
