⏱ 2 min read
A South Florida fundraiser, Keegan Harricharan, 42, of Coral Springs, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. The funds, obtained through fraud, helped finance the plot to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Harricharan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. The laundered funds came from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loans issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Harricharan worked with several others, including Arcangel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, and Walter Veintemilla, to promote, finance, and support the conspiracy to overthrow the Haitian government and assassinate President Moise. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra handed down the sentence, emphasizing the severity of the crime and its connection to the assassination of a head of state.
The case highlights the dangers of financial crime and its potential to fund violent plots. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones stated that following the money is crucial in exposing the true scope of criminal schemes and that those who finance violence will face federal justice.
The sentence serves as a warning to those who would exploit pandemic relief programs for nefarious purposes. Harricharan’s conviction and sentencing demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to dismantling networks that fund violence and promoting stability in democratic institutions.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
