A criminal complaint was opened on July 7, against Jean Pelice, a Haitian national, also known as "Zo", for his role in the armed kidnapping of 16 American citizens in Haiti on October 16, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35012-haiti-flash-at-least-fifteen-american-missionaries-kidnapped-in-port-au-prince.html

The victims were Christian missionaries from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries serving in Haiti and most of them were held captive for 61 days before escaping.

Pelice, 27, a member of the "400 Mawozo" gang, was arrested in Haiti and transferred to the United States on May 16, 2022, on the basis of an arrest warrant. He appeared on July 7 for the first time in the District Court of Columbia.

According to the complaint, Pelice, along with other members of the gang used firearms to guard the missionaries during their captivity. The Gang demanded a $1 million ransom from hostage for their releases https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35037-haiti-flash-the-gang-400-mawozo-demands-one-million-dollars-for-the-release-of-each-american-hostage.html . Two of the hostages were released on November 21, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35299-haiti-flash-2-of-the-17-kidnapped-american-hostages-released.html , and three others were released Sunday, December 5, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35417-haiti-flash-3-new-american-hostages-released.html . The remaining hostages managed to escape on the night of December 15 to 16, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35529-haiti-flash-the-400-mawozo-gang-did-not-release-the-12-hostages-they-escaped.html .

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Miami field office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert, with assistance from paralegal specialist Jorge Casillas of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

Let's recall that in the United States, charges in a complaint or indictment are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a court.

Read also about this case :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35658-haiti-flash-a-ransom-was-paid-for-the-release-of-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35529-haiti-flash-the-400-mawozo-gang-did-not-release-the-12-hostages-they-escaped.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35497-haiti-flash-the-gang-400-mawozo-released-all-the-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35513-haiti-flash-christian-aid-ministries-forgives-the-kidnappers-of-the-17-american-hostages.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35417-haiti-flash-3-new-american-hostages-released.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35299-haiti-flash-2-of-the-17-kidnapped-american-hostages-released.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35204-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35112-icihaiti-insecurity-the-pnh-has-proof-that-the-16-american-hostages-are-alive.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35094-haiti-flash-joe-biden-sends-a-large-number-of-specialists-to-release-the-american-hostages-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35061-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35053-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35037-haiti-flash-the-gang-400-mawozo-demands-one-million-dollars-for-the-release-of-each-american-hostage.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35028-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35012-haiti-flash-at-least-fifteen-american-missionaries-kidnapped-in-port-au-prince.html

SL/ HaitiLibre