The U.S. State Department is offering a $3 million reward to anyone who can help in the arrest of three Haitian gang leaders, at a rate of $1 million per leader.
Joseph Wilson, alias Lanmo Sanjou, Stephenson Jermaine alias Gaspiyay, two leaders of the “400 Mawozo” gang, and Vitelhomme Innocent, of the Torcel gang, are accused in the kidnapping of 16 American missionaries and one Canadian in October 2021.
Joseph Wilson aka Lanmo Sanjou, 29, and Jermaine Stephenson aka Gaspiyay, two current leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang as well as Vitelhomme Innocent, 36, leader of the Kraze Barye gang, are charged in separate indictments filed in the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Justice informed.
The 400 Mawozo gang, which operates in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood, claimed responsibility for kidnapping the North American missionaries. The Kraze Barye gang of Vitelhomme Innocent, which operates in the areas of Torcelle and Tabarre, collaborated with 400 Mawozo in the hostage taking, according to the indictment.
The Ministry of Justice recalls that two alleged leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang have already been charged with the crimes. Joly Germine, alias “Yonyon”, 30, and Jean Pelice, alias “Zo”, 27, were charged by superseding indictment in July 2022. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The U.S. Department of Justice also announced on Monday the unsealing of four other Haitian gang leaders accused of kidnapping against U.S. citizens.
The leader of the Gran Ravine gang, Renel Destina aka Ti Lapli, 40, was indicted for hostage taking. His gang is accused of kidnapping a U.S. citizen in February 2021.
Emanuel Solomon aka Manno, a leader of the Village of God gang, has been indicted on a criminal complaint for the kidnapping of a U.S. citizen in January 2021. Manno and other gang leaders are active on social media, posting about the gang’s exploits, the U.S. Department of Justice says.
Two leaders of the Kokorat san Ras gang, John Peter Fleronvil and Jean Renald Dolcin, were also charged on a complaint of kidnapping three American victims in July 2022.
Fleronvil and other members of the Kokorat san Ras gang were arrested on September 11 by Haitian police as they were preparing to cross the border into the Dominican Republic.
Although no reward has been announced for information leading to their capture, Renel Destina aka Ti Lapli Destina, Emanuel Solomon aka Manno and Jean Renald Dolcin are wanted, the U.S. Department of Justice release said.