Extradited to the United States on May 3, 2022 where he has since been imprisoned for laundering ransoms from kidnappings and illegal trafficking of American firearms to Haiti, Haitian gang leader Germine Joly alias “Yonyon”, former kingpin of the “400 mawozo” is sentenced to 35 years in prison on Monday June 24, 2024, by the American courts. The sentence was handed down by a court in Miami, according to a press release from the country’s Ministry of Justice, report American media including “Reuters”.
THE HAITI FACTOR, June 24, 2024._American justice has ruled on the fate of Germine Joly alias “Yonyon”, former leader of the “400 mawozo” gang operating in Croix-des-Bouquets, Commune in the Western Department of Haiti.
Detained in the United States, the 31-year-old Haitian gang leader is sentenced to 35 years in prison on Monday, June 24, 2024, by a Miami court for his role in laundering kidnapping ransoms and illegal arms trafficking American fire towards Haiti.
At least that is what the Ministry of Justice declared in a press release, reported several American media including “Reuters” and “Miami Herald”.
“Yonyon” from prison, had ordered his acolytes including Wilson Joseph alias “Lanmò San jou” to kidnap 17 foreign missionaries including 16 Americans and one Canadian who were returning from an orphanage in Ganthier. At least 5 children were among the hostages.
In addition to the missionaries, 6 months earlier, in April 2021, Germine Joly had already kidnapped five (5) Catholic priests and two (2) nuns, including two French citizens.
According to local media including Miami Herald, “Yonyon” admitted in a plea document in early 2024 to participating in a plot to smuggle American firearms into Haiti and to helping transfer funds , part of which came from ransoms obtained during the kidnapping of American citizens.
At the sentencing, U.S. prosecutors said Joly’s arms trafficking scheme resulted in the purchase of at least 24 firearms, including AK-47s, AR-15s, an M4 carbine rifle, an M1A rifle and a military caliber 50 rifle.
“Violent gang leaders in Haiti who terrorize American citizens to fuel their criminal activities will face the full force of the Department of Justice,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
Sentenced to 35 years in prison even though he has only 31 at the moment, Germine Joly (Yonyon) will be released at the age of 66 after having served his sentence.
Please remember that since the arrest in Haiti of “Yonyon” followed by his imprisonment until his extradition to the United States, the “400 mawozo” gang has been led by “Lanmò San jou” who, in concert with members of his criminal organization, terrorizes the population of Croix-des-Bouquets.
THE HAITI FACTOR (LFH)
