Hayden O’Byrne United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida | The Florida Bar
On April 18, Marcel Pierre Denis, a New York attorney, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition from Miami to Haiti. The charges stemmed from incidents in April and October of 2022. Denis admitted during the plea process that law enforcement inspections in Miami-Dade County uncovered firearms in cargo he had shipped to Haiti.
In April 2022, officers found an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, a magazine, and ammunition in a cargo box with Denis's name on the shipping invoice. Employees identified Denis as a frequent customer. Denis later acknowledged attempting to ship the items without the necessary export permit.
A similar incident occurred in October 2022 when law enforcement found a semiautomatic pistol hidden inside a coffee container in another cargo box destined for Haiti. Again, employees recognized Denis as the shipper, and records showed he purchased the pistol in Florida. In November 2022, Denis confirmed interactions with law enforcement and acknowledged buying the pistol, claiming it was intended for a business associate in Haiti.
Denis admitted he knew he needed an export permit and that, at the time of the shipments, he was licensed to practice law and working as an administrative officer in New York. U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez will sentence Denis on July 7, facing up to ten years in prison for each count.
The prosecution announced Denis's guilty plea, led by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami. The case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. More information about the case can be found on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website.
