Mastermind behind kidnapping Priests of Haiti – including Canada – Sentenced to life in prison
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The former head of the notorious Haitian gang 400 Mayozo was sentenced on Wednesday in a US court to prison for the conspiracy of the American evangelical group, and one Canadian.
JOLLY “YANYON” Germine, 34, was found guilty in May following a 10-day trial of one count of conspiracy to seize citizenship – by hijacking the US Embassy in Columbia.
Gerderine, who has been in custody since early May 2022, previously pleaded guilty to 35 years in prison for his role in smuggling his guns to Haiti and in raids for the money of other gangs.
Under the sentence he received Wednesday, in the US District Court in Washington, he will not be eligible for supervised release, the Federal Altrole.
The life sentence comes from the role he played while imprisoned in Haiti when he wanted to kidnap 16 US citizens, including five children, who were part of the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries organization. It was taken by a Canadian member of a Mennonite missionary group.
Christian Aid Ministries says Canada is among 17 people linked to its organization who were kidnapped by gangs in Haiti while en route to an orphanage on Saturday.
They held him to ransom
The victims were returning from visiting orphans in Haiti when they were kidnapped on Oct. 16, 2021, by Massod Gunce from 400 Mayozo, who worked in the area east of Port-au-Prince, according to the evidence presented in the trial.
Gang members drove their captors out of the field, robbed them at gunpoint, and demanded $1 million US in ransom to secure their freedom, all prosecutors said.
The gang initially threatened through social media to kill the kidnappers if the ransom was not paid. But at the start of the administration’s talks, senior party leaders offered to accept Gedine’s release from Haitian custody in lieu of a ransom payment.
Escape
Most of the missionaries ended up being held for 62 days before they were able to escape under the cover of darkness and out of the bandit area. Five of the hostages were released earlier.
Testimony in the trial shows that Germary directed the first kidnapping, arranged for the places where the uncaptured US lands were to be taken and set a high payment that would lead to his negotiated release.
In the end, Marine, who was the former leader and chief “explainer” of 400 Mayozo, was transferred by Haiti to the United States at the request of the US government.
Kidnapping for ransom remains rampant in Haiti. The United Nations reported that about 1,500 people were kidnapped last year and about 2,500 in 2023.
