The U.S Department of State has announced a reward offer increase of up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Haitian national Vitel‘homme Innocent for conspiring to participate in or attempting to participate in transnational organized crime.
A statement from the Department on Wednesday said this announcement coincided with the FBI announcement of Innocent’s addition to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List and follows the Department of Justice’s announcement of an indictment against Innocent for conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, and other charges.
“On October 16, 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang engaged in a conspiracy to kidnap sixteen U.S. Christian missionaries and one Canadian missionary and held them for ransom.
Then, on October 7, 2022, armed members of Innocent’s gang kidnapped two elderly U.S. citizens residing in Torcelle, Haiti, resulting in the death of one of the kidnap victims. Innocent was charged as a co-conspirator in both kidnappings.
“The United States supports the efforts of our Haitian law enforcement partners to enforce rule of law in Haiti and combat transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
