A resident of Coral Springs, Florida, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars fraudulently obtained from pandemic relief programs. This money ultimately financed the conspiracy that led to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Keegan Harricharan, 42, received his sentence last Wednesday from U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra of the Southern District of Florida, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Investigations revealed that Harricharan used funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, established under the CARES Act to support small businesses during the pandemic, to help finance the plot against the Haitian leader.
Authorities report that, along with co-defendant Jacob Israel, Harricharan fraudulently secured approximately $840,827 in PPP loans starting in June 2020. From that scheme, Israel and his associates received about $126,124 in kickbacks.
Harricharan funneled the money through his company, TNR Holding Group Inc. Between May 18 and May 28, 2021, he deposited around $175,000 into the company's account and promptly transferred it to Walter Veintemilla, who distributed the funds among other conspirators. Days later, he sent an additional $80,000, including resources from the EIDL program.
Planning the Overthrow
From April to May 2021, Harricharan participated in several meetings in South Florida with other involved parties to plan the overthrow of Moïse, discuss forming a new Haitian government, and coordinate acquiring weapons, ammunition, personnel, and military equipment.
Upon announcing the sentence, federal prosecutor Jason A. Reding Quiñones emphasized that the case extended beyond financial fraud.
"This defendant went beyond committing fraud. He exploited pandemic relief programs intended to keep small businesses afloat during a national crisis and laundered those stolen public funds to fuel a conspiracy that resulted in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse," he stated.
Ongoing Justice for a High-Profile Crime
Jovenel Moïse was killed in the early hours of July 7, 2021, when a group of Colombian mercenaries stormed his residence in Port-au-Prince. The president was shot multiple times, while his wife, Martine Moïse, was severely wounded. Their children survived the attack.
Harricharan's conviction adds to a growing list of individuals prosecuted in the United States for their roles in the conspiracy.
In May 2026, a federal jury in Miami found Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, James Solages, and Walter Veintemilla guilty, all facing life sentences. Before them, Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced to life in June 2023, and former Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios received the same sentence in March 2024.
The sentencing of Jacob Israel is pending, scheduled for December this year, along with the trial of Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-American doctor and pastor identified by the prosecution as the person the conspirators intended to install as Haiti's president after Moïse's assassination.
For prosecutor Reding Quiñones, the case highlights how financial fraud can escalate into a crime with international repercussions.
"When fraud proceeds are channeled into political violence and bloodshed, the threat extends beyond financial losses and affects the stability of democratic institutions themselves. We will follow the money trail and ensure that those who finance violence are held accountable in federal court," he concluded.
Understanding the Complexity of the Case
What pandemic relief programs were exploited by Keegan Harricharan?
Keegan Harricharan exploited the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to fraudulently obtain funds.
Who were some of the other individuals convicted in connection to the assassination plot?
Individuals convicted include Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, James Solages, Walter Veintemilla, Rodolphe Jaar, and Mario Antonio Palacios.
What was the role of Christian Emmanuel Sanon in the conspiracy?
Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Haitian-American doctor and pastor, was identified as the person the conspirators intended to install as Haiti's president after Moïse's assassination.