U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin announced that Jean Wiltene Eugène, 57, arrested during a traffic stop on May 4th, 2024, in Key West, Florida, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington to one count of smuggling firearms that enabled the illegal export of firearms to Haiti.

Under U.S. law, anyone exporting a firearm without a permit is subject to a fine of up to $1 million and a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Sentencing will be announced on July 22, 2025.

According to court documents, Eugène is a U.S. citizen born in Haiti and residing in Key West, Florida. On or about September 23, 2021, Eugene exported several firearms from the United States to Haiti without first obtaining the required permit from the Bureau of Industry and Security, located in the District of Columbia. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Eugene admitted to shipping two vehicles to Haiti in 2020 and 2021, containing nine concealed firearms purchased in Key West under his name.

During a subsequent interview with federal agents, Eugene admitted knowing it was illegal to ship firearms to Haiti.

This case was investigated by the FBI's Miami Field Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce's Office of Export Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall and Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division.

HL/ HaitiLibre