Key West Gun Smuggler Sentenced to 30 Months for Haiti Arms Shipment

Washington – Jean Wiltene Eugene, the 57-year-old Key West gun runner, faced a federal judge’s stern rebuke today as he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his illegal arms shipment from the United States to Haiti. The sentence, announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, followed Eugene’s guilty plea on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling.

Eugene’s transgression reached beyond mere fines, as Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered the convicted arms dealer to serve a further 24 months of supervised release upon his prison term. The justice system demanded retribution for Eugene’s brazen violation of U.S. export laws and regulations.

Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the Miami Field Office stood united with U.S. Attorney Pirro in denouncing Eugene’s actions.

The court documents painted a chilling picture, detailing how Eugene, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Haiti, exported firearms to Haiti without obtaining the necessary license from the Bureau of Industry and Security. His disregard for federal law could have carried a fine of up to $250,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

According to law enforcement, Eugene’s export scheme was meticulously planned. He arranged the shipment of vehicles to Haiti through a Florida-based export company, signing off on terms that falsely declared the absence of firearms or ammunition. However, his true intentions were far from innocent; he admitted shipping two vehicles to Haiti with firearms hidden inside, using food and other items to conceal them.

Eugene’s deception unravelled when federal agents confronted him with evidence. He confessed to purchasing nine firearms in Key West under his name, which he now claimed were located at his gas station in Haiti. Despite knowing the law, he admitted to illegal arms shipments, a clear indication of his organized crime involvement.

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