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Haiti - Justice : A Haitian from Florida accused of arms smuggling 08/06/2012 10:36:33
Mr. Jean-Baptiste who was arrested in Florida on his return from Haiti on May 31, appeared before a federal court in West Palm Beach on Wednesday to face an indictment charging him with conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the U.S. If convicted, he faces five years in prison. Jean-Baptiste told investigators he knew what he was doing was illegal during his first interrogation, but he continued to do it, declared the prosecutor Michael Walleisa to the Judge James Hopkins. Shipments also violated the U.S. embargo on the export of firearms in Haiti, indicated the prosecutor. "Haitians were in need of armed protection [...] him and his partner... agreed to start a security firm there [...]" declared the prosecutor, who stressed that the accused was carrying a Blackberry provided by the National Police of Haiti, when he was arrested on May 31 "I don't think they give that to every citizen who shows up in the country..." In August 2009, Jean-Baptiste bought some 29 semi-automatic handguns and shotguns and shipped them clandestinely in Haiti, the investigators said, which states that Vladimir Jean-Baptiste, made 22 trips to Haiti since 2009. Prosecutors declared that Jean-Baptiste was a flight risk and danger to the community, both in Florida and overseas. According to Justice Hopkins, his ties with Haiti and his immigration status are the reasons for which Vladimir Jean-Baptiste, should be detained pending trial. HL/ HaitiLibre
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