Former Haitian Mayor Convicted of Immigration Crimes for Lying About Past Involvement in Haitian Political Violence.
A jury has convicted Jean Morose Viliena, the former Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, for possessing and using a Permanent Resident Card he had fraudulently obtained by falsely stating he had not ordered, carried out, or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Viliena was involved in several instances of violence as Mayor of Les Irois. The first occurred on July 27, 2007, when a witness spoke at a judicial proceeding in Les Irois on behalf of a neighbor who had been assaulted by Viliena. In reprisal, that evening, according to testimony at trial, Viliena led an armed group to that witness’s home, where Viliena and his associates shot and killed the witness’s younger brother and then smashed his skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders.
The second incident occurred in April 2008, after several community members founded a radio station. According to multiple witnesses’ testimony, Viliena opposed establishment of the radio station and, on April 8, 2008, mobilized armed members of his staff and supporters to forcibly shut down the radio station and seize its broadcasting equipment. At that time, Viliena distributed firearms to his men, some of whom also carried machetes and picks.
Viliena was the Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, from December 2006 until at least February 2010. As a candidate and as Mayor, Viliena was backed by a political machine called Korega, which exerted power throughout the southwestern region of Haiti through armed violence. Viliena personally supervised his mayoral staff and other armed supporters in Les Irois aligned with Korega.
“Today a jury found that Jean Morose Viliena lied his way into gaining entrance into the United States after committing unspeakable acts of violence in Haiti,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department will not stand for human rights violators illegally entering and roaming the streets of our communities. Thank you to the brave victims and witnesses who helped our law enforcement partners and prosecutors begin to hold Viliena accountable for his crimes.”
“The political corruption and violence that the people of Haiti endured at the direction of Jean Morose Viliena, is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “The United States is not where you come to hide from your crimes. Today’s conviction is proof that running away from your crimes and lying to federal officials will catch up to you. I applaud the courage of the witnesses who spoke up about the abuse they suffered as a result of Viliena.”
“Viliena’s horrific violence, committed both by his own hand and by armed groups he directed, made him ineligible to enter the United States,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “He has now faced the consequences of lying to come to live in Massachusetts. HSI actively investigates and apprehends human rights violators who seek to escape their criminal pasts and come here, and we will not allow this country to become a safe haven for these criminals.”
Defendant: Jean Morose Viliena
Criminal Charges: Possessing and using a Permanent Resident Card he had fraudulently obtained by falsely stating he had not ordered, carried out, or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence.
City and State: Massachusetts
Date: Not specified
Sentence: Not specified
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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