Three individuals residing in Florida have been indicted on charges related to smuggling firearms from the United States to Haiti. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced that Francesca Charles, 28, a U.S. citizen; Jacques Pierre, 32; and his brother Jeff Pierre, 34, both Haitian citizens living in Florida, face accusations of conspiracy to smuggle goods and unlawfully ship firearms, among other charges. If convicted, each could receive up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, authorities in the Dominican Republic intercepted a shipping container in February 2025 that had been sent from Miami and was destined for Haiti. The container held 18 rifles, five handguns, firearms magazines, over 36,000 rounds of ammunition, and a silencer. These items were not listed on the manifest, which instead described household goods as the contents.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) determined that the defendants had purchased at least 20 of the 23 firearms found in the shipment. Further investigation revealed that between May 2024 and February 2025, they bought at least 46 firearms—most matching those recovered by Dominican authorities—with thirty-seven purchased during a six-month period ending in February 2025.
Records also indicate Jacques Pierre bought two Barrett .50-caliber rifles. One of these military-style weapons was found in the intercepted shipment.
Travel and shipping records show that after purchasing large quantities of firearms, the accused would arrange shipments to Haiti and travel there around their expected arrival dates. The defendants also traveled to the Dominican Republic three days before officials seized the container.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe stated: "An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty."
The ATF and HSI are leading the investigation with help from U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration as well as targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
