Jean Wiltene Eugene, a 57-year-old resident of Key West, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $20,000 for his involvement in an illegal gunrunning operation to Haiti. The sentencing took place in the U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Eugene pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling firearms. Judge Carl J. Nichols also imposed a 24-month supervised release following the prison term.
The announcement included statements from Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin Fleck from the Miami Field Office.
Court documents reveal that Eugene, a U.S. citizen born in Haiti, knowingly exported firearms to Haiti without obtaining the necessary license from the Bureau of Industry and Security. Violating this statute can result in fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment for up to ten years.
Eugene used a Florida-based export company to ship vehicles containing hidden firearms to Haiti. He admitted during interviews with law enforcement that he concealed weapons inside vehicles shipped in 2020 and 2021.
Further investigations revealed that nine firearms purchased by Eugene were stored at his gas station in Haiti. He acknowledged knowing it was illegal to export these weapons when questioned by federal agents.
Eugene's arrest occurred on May 4, 2024, in Key West.
The case was investigated by the FBI Miami Field Office with support from other agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall among others.
