U.S. arrests four more suspects tied to Haitian president's assassination

U.S. authorities arrested and charged four suspects on Tuesday for their roles in the plot to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021. 

Federal agents arrested Antonio "Tony" Intriago, owner of Counter Terrorist Unit Security, or CTU; Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, operator of the affiliated CTU Federal Academy LLC; and Walter Veintemilla, head of Miramar-based Worldwide Capital Lending Group, U.S. authorities said in a briefing. They are being charged with supporting a conspiracy to kidnap or kill the president of Haiti.

Ortiz and Intriago allegedly hired more than 20 former soldiers from Colombia, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. 

Authorities also charged Frederick Bergmann with conspiring to smuggle ballistic vests for the Colombian soldiers who allegedly carried out the assassination. Some of the operatives have been accused of falsely depicting themselves as U.S. federal agents and CIA operatives. 

Federal agents have arrested a total of 11 individuals connected to the murder, according to the Justice Department. 

On Feb. 1, officials charged four other suspects and transferred them to the United States for prosecution. Three suspects were accused of conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the U.S. and providing material support and resources resulting in death. The fourth was charged with conspiring to smuggle goods from the U.S. and failing to properly file export information.

Moise was fatally shot in July 2021 by mercenaries who invaded his home in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. His wife, Martine Moise, was also shot but survived. 

Moise’s assassination left a power vacuum in the country, leading to a rise in extreme violence by gangs.