Former Haiti Mayor Sentenced for Immigration Fraud Tied to Political Killings
BOSTON — Jean Morose Viliena, a former mayor from Haiti implicated in numerous political killings, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for immigration fraud. Viliena, 53, received his sentence in Boston on Friday after lying on his application for a Green Card, claiming he had not ordered or engaged in extrajudicial killings against Haitian citizens.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley emphasized the severity of Viliena’s actions, stating he lived comfortably in the United States for over a decade while his victims suffered in fear and exile. “Today’s sentence brings a measure of justice for the lives he shattered,” Foley remarked, underscoring that the U.S. is not a safe haven for human rights abusers.
Viliena served as the mayor of Les Irois in Haiti from 2006 to 2010 and was associated with a violent political faction known as Korega, notorious for exerting control through armed force. Under his leadership, the militia enforced policies through brutal means, often silencing opposition violently. One notorious incident involved the execution of a witness who testified against him, further showcasing his ruthlessness.
In 2008, Viliena applied for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, falsely asserting that he had not engaged in violent acts against the Haitian people. After gaining entry and permanent residence, a civil lawsuit in 2017 uncovered his violent past, culminating in a jury finding him liable for extrajudicial killings and awarding $11 million in punitive damages to his victims.
As part of his sentence, Viliena will face deportation proceedings upon release. The U.S. Department of Justice made it clear that it will hold human rights violators accountable, reinforcing a commitment to justice.
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