On Wednesday February 28, 2024, Jocelyn Dor, aged 31, a Haitian citizen residing in Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for participating in a very sophisticated smuggling scheme which allowed the export or attempted exported at least 24 firearms from the United States to Haiti, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Along with the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates sentenced Dor to three years of probation. Dor pleaded guilty on October 30, 2023, to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, violation of the Export Control Reform Act, and money laundering to promote a specific illegal activity.

According to government documents, "400 Mawozo" is a notoriously violent Haitian gang and criminal organization that operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets region, east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Starting on January 12, 2020, "400 Mawozo" carried out armed kidnappings of American citizens in Haiti for ransom.

Dor acted as a straw buyer (secret representative) for "400 Mawozo". From September 18, 2021 to October 17, 2021, he purchased 10 high-powered semi-automatic rifles from gun stores in the Orlando area, on the instructions of Germine [Leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, Germine Joly aka "Yonyon"] with the express purpose of shipping these weapons to the leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti. Rifles were intended for combat. One of the weapons, a 50 caliber Barrett rifle, is primarily used by the military against heavy machinery. Dor falsely stated to arms sellers that he was the "real buyer" of these weapons. He also received multiple transfers of thousands of US dollars from his accomplices to ensure payment.

The FBI attempted to arrest Dor on October 31, 2021, but was unable to locate either Dor or the high-powered rifles. Dor stopped using his cell phones, showing he was aware law enforcement was after him. The search extended to the Midwest where Dor was nearly captured at a truck stop. On November 5, 2021, Dor rented storage space in Orlando. On November 8, 2021, he asked his lawyer to contact the FBI in order to surrender. The FBI arrested Dor the same day and recovered the weapons from the warehouse in Orlando. He has been in detention since his arrest.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36596-haiti-usa-3-haitians-and-an-american-charged-with-having-provided-weapons-and-ammunition-to-the-gang-400-mawozo.html

HL/ HaitiLibre