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Vol. 33, Issue 1 QUEENS/LONG ISLAND/BRONX/MANHATTAN January 7-13, 2022
Colombian wanted in Haiti president assassination detained in Panama. File photo
Colombian National Charged in Plot
to Kill Haitian President
By Nelson A. King
The United States Department
of Justice (DOJ) said
on Tuesday that a Colombian
national was arrested based
on a criminal complaint filed
in the Southern District of
Florida.
The DOJ said Mario Antonio
Palacios, 43, is “charged with
conspiracy to commit murder
or kidnapping outside the
United States and providing
material support resulting in
death, knowing or intending
that such material support
would be used to prepare for
or carry out the conspiracy to
kill or kidnap.”
As alleged in the complaint,
which was unsealed on Tuesday,
these charges relate to the
Jul. 7, 2021, assassination of
the former President of Haiti,
Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-
Prince, Haiti.
As alleged, the defendant
and others, including a group
of about 20 other Colombian
citizens and a group of Haiti
based dual Haitian-American
citizens, participated in
a plot to kidnap or kill the
Haitian President, with one
conspirator (“Co-conspirator
#1”) traveling to the United
States on Jun. 28, 2021, to,
among other things, provide
other individuals with a written
request for assistance to
further the plot relating to the
Haitian President.
As alleged in the complaint,
while the plot initially focused
on conducting a kidnapping
of the president as part of a
purported arrest operation, it
ultimately resulted in a plot to
kill the Haitian President.
The complaint affidavit
alleges that, on Jul. 7, 2021,
Palacios and others entered the
president’s residence in Haiti
with the intent and purpose of
killing President Moise, and in
fact the president was killed.
Co-conspirator #1, a dual
Haitian-American citizen, was
subsequently arrested by Haitian
authorities and remains in
custody in Haiti, the DOJ said.
It said Palacios eluded arrest
and traveled to Jamaica.
“Palacios was recently
deported from Jamaica and,
during a layover in Panama,
agreed to travel to the United
States,” the DOJ said.
If convicted of the charges
in the complaint, Palacios
faces a maximum sentence of
life imprisonment, the DOJ
said.
It said a federal district
court judge will determine any
sentence after considering the
US Sentencing Guidelines and
other statutory factors.
ADAMS BIDS BROOKLYN
‘A FAREWELL FOR NOW’
By Nelson A. King
The day before he was sworn
in on Jan. 1 as the new Mayor
of New York City, Eric Adams
bade Brooklyn, as borough president,
“a farewell for now.”
“As we get ready to welcome
2022, we reflect on the past year,
which has not been easy by any
metric,” said Adams in an email
message to Brooklynites “However,
as Anne Frank once wrote:
‘Where there’s hope, there’s life.
It fills us with fresh courage and
makes us strong again.’
“Despite the ongoing surge
of the COVID-19 Omicron variant
and the devastation Hurricane
Ida wrought upon our
communities in September, as
well as the pervasive economic,
racial, and social inequities
that plague our communities,
it’s easy to feel down,” he added.
“But Brooklynites are stronger
when they stand together, and
are never down for the count.
“I am filled with renewed hope
that the coming year will bring
us to places of greater equality,
health, justice and safety for all
Brooklynites and New Yorkers,”
he continued. “Yes, there is a lot
of work that must be done, and
no, it is not going to be easy.
“But, in the words of the late
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who
we lost earlier this week, ‘To
choose hope is to step firmly forward
into the howling wind, baring
one’s chest to the elements,
knowing that, in time, the storm
will pass,’” Adams said.
He said if the past eight years
have taught him anything about
Brooklynites, “it’s that when
our communities face difficult
times, I always see neighbors
rise to lend a hand, whether
bringing home-cooked meals
to those who are homeless or
homebound, or collecting clothing
and toiletries for families
whose home was tragically gutted
by fire.
“Brooklynites always find a
way to come together to help
other Brooklynites,” the new
mayor said. “That is spreading
love, the Brooklyn way!
“And so, on this final New
Year’s Eve of my borough presidency,
and in the enduring spirit
of One Brooklyn, I hope all
of you reading will continue to
do all you can to elevate and
empower others in Brooklyn
and beyond who may be less
fortunate,” he added. “When we
welcome 2022, let’s resolve to do
what we can to make this borough,
this city, and this world a
better place.
“Wishing all of you a very
happy, joyful, peaceful New
Year!” Adams continued.
Eric Adams.
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