Joly Germine, a 32-year-old from Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, was found guilty by a federal jury in Washington D.C. for his involvement in the 2021 hostage-taking of 16 American citizens, including five children. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan James of the Miami Field Office.
“This office will fight aggressively to protect Americans who are taken hostage and abused, and to uphold the religious freedoms of our people, including Christians,” stated U.S. Attorney Pirro. “As the evidence demonstrated, Joly Germine orchestrated a plot that leveraged American Christian missionaries as bargaining chips to try to secure his own release from a Haitian prison.”
FBI Assistant Special Agent James emphasized the agency's commitment: “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s determination to follow the evidence wherever it leads and to work our way up to the leaders of criminal plots wherever they are.”
After a 10-day trial in U.S. District Court, Germine was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and 16 counts of hostage-taking of a U.S. national for ransom.
Germine had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to gun trafficking and money laundering connected with his gang's activities. He was sentenced in June 2024 to 35 years in federal prison for those crimes.
The gang known as 400 Mawozo operated under Germine’s leadership from prison using unmonitored cell phones. On October 16, 2021, they kidnapped Mennonite missionaries returning from an orphanage visit, demanding $1 million ransom per person or Germine’s release.
Two hostages were released due to health issues on November 20, followed by three more after a $350,000 ransom payment on December 5. The remaining hostages escaped on December 16 after being held for a total of 62 days.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Germine directed the kidnapping operations and set an exorbitant ransom demand intending it would lead to negotiations for his release.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the FBI Miami Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives among others.
Prosecution efforts were led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Tom Saunders along with Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas.
