Joly Germine, 31, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, has been sentenced to 420 months (35 years) in prison for his pivotal role in an extensive gunrunning conspiracy that smuggled firearms from the United States to Haiti. This illegal operation violated U.S. export laws and facilitated the laundering of ransom money paid for American hostages held by the notorious Haitian gang 400 Mawozo.
Eliande Tunis, 46, from Pompano Beach, Florida, who was identified during the trial as Germine’s self-styled “wife” and referred to as the “Queen” of 400 Mawozo, received a sentence of 150 months (12.5 years) on June 5, 2024. Tunis played a pivotal role in the conspiracy, overseeing various operations.
The Gunrunning Scheme
The conspiracy involved the purchase of at least 24 firearms in the United States, including military-grade and close-quarters combat weapons such as AK-47s, AR-15s, an M4 Carbine, an M1A rifle, and a .50 caliber rifle. These firearms were smuggled into Haiti to support the gang’s violent activities. The purchase of these weapons was funded through laundered ransom money obtained from the kidnapping of U.S. citizens in 2021.
Statements from U.S. Authorities
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “A leader of the Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo will now spend 35 years in prison for a scheme to smuggle guns from the United States to Haiti using proceeds extorted from kidnapping American citizens. The leaders of violent gangs in Haiti that terrorize American citizens in order to fuel their criminal activity will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray commented, “Joly Germine is being held accountable for smuggling weapons into Haiti using funds laundered from the ransoms of kidnapped American citizens. The 400 Mawazo gang not only causes chaos in its own communities but also targets innocent Americans living and traveling in Haiti. The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to dismantle the leadership and eliminate any violent criminal group that preys on Americans abroad, employing unlawful tactics like weapons trafficking and kidnapping to sustain their criminal enterprises.”
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach highlighted the wider consequences of firearms smuggling, saying, “Firearms smuggling is not a victimless crime. Many guns smuggled to Haiti end up in the hands of violent gangs, who use them to harm both Haitians and American citizens. As this sentence illustrates, ATF is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners domestically and internationally to hold gun smugglers accountable.”
The Role of Joly Germine and Eliande Tunis
Germine, a leader within 400 Mawozo, directed the gang’s operations from a Haitian prison using unmonitored cell phones. He coordinated with Tunis and other U.S.-based accomplices to smuggle firearms into Haiti. Tunis and the co-conspirators purchased the firearms in Florida, falsely claiming to be the actual buyers, and smuggled them disguised as food and household goods. In one instance, firearms were seized by the FBI before leaving the United States.
Germine pleaded guilty on January 31 to a 48-count indictment charging him with conspiring to violate U.S. export control laws, smuggling, and laundering ransom money. Germine’s plea followed a trial that featured testimony from 24 witnesses and spanned two weeks of evidence presentation. Tunis, who also faced the same 48-count indictment, pleaded guilty on January 17 and was sentenced on June 5. Additionally, two other defendants, Jocelyn Dor and Walder St. Louis, received sentences of 60 months and 36 months, respectively, for their involvement in the scheme.
400 Mawozo’s Reign of Terror
Operating in the Croix-des-Bouquets area near Port-au-Prince, 400 Mawozo engaged in armed kidnappings for ransom, targeting both Haitians and Americans. In 2021, they kidnapped 16 U.S. citizens, including five children, and one Canadian citizen from a missionary group, demanding a ransom of $1 million per hostage. The hostages were released or escaped by December 16, 2021. While Germine faces separate charges related to this incident, these were not addressed in the current sentencing.
International Cooperation and Justice in Haiti Case
The investigation and prosecution involved significant international cooperation. The FBI Miami Field Office led the investigation, with support from the ATF, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, and the Haitian National Police. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Kimberly Paschall, along with Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case.
This case underscores the determination of U.S. law enforcement to dismantle violent gangs and disrupt their transnational criminal activities, ensuring that those who commit such crimes face severe consequences.
