U.S. arrests owner of company with alleged links to Haitian president's assassination

The owner of a security company in Miami, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday with charges in connection with the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, committed on July 7, 2021.

Venezuelan-American Antonio Intriago, owner of the security firm CTU Security, which is being investigated for possible links to Moïse's murder, has been arrested and is expected to appear in court in South Florida, according to his attorney Joseph Tesmond, The New York Times reports.

Intriago had declared to the authorities through his lawyers in 2021 that "he was the victim of a takeover plan in Haiti" of which he was unaware and that his company was contacted to provide security for a "humanitarian" project of infrastructure in Haiti.

"I can confirm that Intriago was arrested this morning and has been in Miami during the course of the investigation," Tesmond said, adding that his client "intends to plead not guilty at his bail hearing this afternoon."

Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, a partner of Intriago, was also arrested on Tuesday.

Intriago's company, CTU Security, based in Doral, near Miami, recruited about twenty former Colombian soldiers who assaulted the house of the Haitian president on the night of the assassination, in July 2021, although the motive is still unknown. 

Attorney Tesmond also confirmed to the newspaper the arrest of Walter Veintemilla, a U.S. citizen and Florida-based financier who allegedly lent CTU Security $172,000 to finance its operations in Haiti.

On Jan. 31, four people arrested in connection with Moïse's murder were turned over to U.S. federal authorities to face charges related to his alleged involvement in the murder.

So far, eight people are in custody in the United States in connection with the case, including James Solages and Joseph Vincent, two Haitian-Americans who were among the first arrested after Moïse was shot 12 times.

Other suspects are Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor and businessman who, according to inside sources, was deceived by the true masterminds of the crime, reported the Associated Press.

Also in custody are former Haitian Sen. John Joël Joseph, who had fled to Jamaica, and former U.S. government informant and Haitian businessman Rodolphe Jaar, who was extradited from the Dominican Republic.

Three judges have withdrawn from the case for fear of being assassinated and a fourth has been dismissed. No court hearings have yet been held for the more than 40 suspects detained in Haiti, including 18 Colombian soldiers who remain confined in an overcrowded Port-au-Prince jail that often lacks food and water, the news agency added.