Former Haitian police officer charged with arms trafficking by U.S. federal court

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Former Haitian National Police (PNH) officer and United States citizen Jean Robert Casimir, 52, was arrested by U.S. authorities on Dec. 18 and charged with smuggling firearms to Haiti. Casimir allegedly purchased at least 87 firearms of various caliber between October 2021 and May 2024, some of which ended up in the hands of Haitian gangs.

A criminal complaint filed in December by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the District Court of Columbia outlines Casimir’s violations, including smuggling, conspiracy, and breaching the Export Control Reform Act of 2018  (ECRA).

“The facts in this affidavit are based on my personal observations, training, and experience, as well as information obtained from other agents, witnesses, and agencies, particularly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” Evan Ratcliff, Special Agent of  HSI, wrote in the complaint published this month.

“This affidavit is intended solely to demonstrate that there is probable cause sufficient to justify the requested warrant. It does not present the full scope of my knowledge, nor that of others, concerning this case,” Ratcliff added.

Casimir confirmed delivering firearms illegally to Haiti, according to investigators 

On Aug. 7, 2024, Casimir was flagged for additional screening at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport in Florida. During a voluntary interview with HSI, the former police officer admitted to smuggling firearms to Haiti four or five times. He described packing the firearms in boxes for transport via boat from Miami to Miragoâne, a southwest seaport less than 80 miles from Port-au-Prince, where associates retrieved them for delivery to his unnamed security company in the Haitian capital. 

“This affidavit is intended solely to demonstrate that there is probable cause sufficient to justify the requested warrant. It does not present the full scope of my knowledge, nor that of others, concerning this case.”

Evan Ratcliff, Agent spécial de Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Casimir acknowledged knowing the illegality of his actions but claimed some firearms ended up with gangs after one of his employees was attacked while transporting them. Casimir was also a member of the physical security staff for the PNH chief. During the interview with U.S. law enforcement agents, he revealed that he provided armed security services in Haiti, where he recruited off-duty Haitian police officers for protection roles.

Search warrant reveals incriminating evidence and contractions in Casimir’s statements

Casimir told investigators he had purchased only four firearms in 2024. However, records from a U.S. firearm dealer revealed he completed at least 30 firearm transaction forms (FTRs), acquiring 87 weapons, including rifles and handguns. On each form, he listed his address in Lauderhill, Florida, signed it, and answered “Yes” to the question: “Are you the actual purchaser of all the firearms listed on this form and on any continuation sheets?”

“Several firearms were stolen by the gang during the robbery,” Casimir told investigators.

The transaction forms clearly warned buyers about penalties for unauthorized exports, stating: “Any person who exports a firearm without proper authorization…is subject to a fine of up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment for up to 20 years.”

Additionally, Casimir stated that he only kept a handgun at home and stored an additional AR-15 rifle at a cousin’s house. Regarding his purchase of two AR-15s in October 2023, he explained that immediately after buying the firearms, he took them to a friend’s house and never retrieved them after the friend died in a motorcycle accident in Florida. However, Special Agent Ratcliff notes that Casimir admitted he intended to smuggle the firearms to Haiti if they had not been lost.

“These records directly contradict Casimir’s claim that he purchased only four firearms,” said Ratcliff.

On Oct. 1, 2024, Federal Judge Zia M. Faruqui approved a search warrant for Casimir’s phones. Investigators found numerous photos of firearms and text conversations about their sale, confirming his involvement in illegal arms trafficking.

Evidence collected includes videos, photos, and messages related to purchasing firearms in the U.S. and selling them in Haiti.

Smuggling operations linked to gangs

Investigators began uncovering arms trafficking to Haiti in November 2022. Using the ATF’s eTrace system, they linked several smuggled firearms to Casimir, including two Radical Firearms rifles he purchased in October 2023 from a federally licensed firearms dealer near West Palm Beach, Florida.

U.S. authorities concluded that, between August 2020 and the present, Casimir and his accomplices engaged in extensive smuggling operations, violating multiple U.S. laws.

Casimir’s actions underscore the dangers of arms trafficking in fueling gang violence in Haiti. As the case proceeds in U.S. courts, officials hope the prosecution will send a strong message against the illegal export of firearms that has been detrimental to Haiti’s security.

The post Former Haitian police officer charged with arms trafficking by U.S. federal court appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Former Haitian police officer charged with arms trafficking by U.S. federal court was first posted on January 11, 2025 at 11:41 am.