Joly Germine, a 32-year-old from Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Washington, D.C., for orchestrating the 2021 hostage-taking of 16 American citizens. The group included five children and was held captive for 62 days.
The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan James from the Miami Field Office. U.S. Attorney Pirro stated, "This office will fight aggressively to protect Americans who are taken hostage and abused, and to uphold the religious freedoms of our people, including Christians." She added that Germine used American Christian missionaries as bargaining chips to try to secure his release from a Haitian prison.
FBI Assistant Special Agent James emphasized the agency's commitment to pursuing justice regardless of location: "Neither time nor distance will weaken our resolve. We will use all tools available and go to farthest reaches of the globe to bring to justice those who kidnap Americans."
After a 10-day trial in U.S. District Court, Germine was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and 16 counts of hostage-taking of a U.S. national for ransom.
Germine, known as the former leader and self-proclaimed "king" of the violent Haitian gang 400 Mawozo, had previously pleaded guilty to gun trafficking and money laundering related to ransoms paid for other U.S. hostages. He received a 35-year federal prison sentence in June 2024 for these crimes.
The gang operated in Croix-des-Bouquets near Port-au-Prince, with Germine directing operations from prison using unmonitored cell phones. On October 16, 2021, members of Christian Aid Ministries were abducted by armed soldiers from 400 Mawozo while returning from an orphanage visit. Sixteen victims were U.S. citizens; one was Canadian.
The gang demanded $1 million per hostage or Germine's release in exchange for their freedom. Although some hostages were released after ransom payments or due to medical issues, others escaped on December 16, 2021.
Evidence presented at trial showed Germine directed the kidnapping and set an unattainable $17 million ransom demand intending it would lead to negotiations for his release.
The case involved collaboration between various agencies including the FBI Miami Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Customs and Border Protection Service, Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Defense, U.S. Marshals Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police among others.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Tom Saunders led the prosecution with support from Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas and other legal professionals.