MechansT’s manager accuses six men of organizing illegal U.S. trip linked to missing rapper

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Family members and close associates of missing rapper Wens Jonathan ‘MechansT’ Désir have accused at least six men of organizing an illegal trip from The Bahamas to Miami, which reportedly cost the rapper about $8,000. The men have refused to disclose whether the boat arrived in Miami or the whereabouts of Désir, according to Désir’s production manager, Chero Cherident.

“Those people talked with MechansT, planned the trip for money,” Cherident told The Haitian Times in a WhatsApp interview on Aug. 3. “Now, since there’s a problem, their names need to be out there so we can know who is implicated, who was organizing the trip. Those people have to talk. They have to say, ‘Yes, the boat sank, or no, it didn’t sink.’”

Among those accused by Cherident are Elinair ‘Pick’ Petitphat and Sandie Corneille, who allegedly received money, and Emilien Haly, the purported owner of the boat. Cherident could not provide the full names of the other three suspects known as Peter, who is accused of arranging the trip; Willy, who allegedly worked alongside Haly and was initially introduced as the boat’s owner; and Lubin, a Haitian American living in the U.S. who was reportedly supposed to guide passengers to their final destination in Miami.

The Haitian Times reached out to all the named suspects except Haly, whose contact information was not found. Only Petitphat responded, denying the allegations and declining to elaborate further.

“I didn’t appreciate the blatant lies by his girlfriend and involving persons that just brought him [Désir] here for a show,” Petitphat wrote in a WhatsApp message, referring to when Désir’s wife, Linessa Désir, posted pictures of some suspects on Instagram.

“Too much hearsay and no concrete information. We did not appreciate her slander and posting pics,” Petitphat added. “Everyone is playing dumb and pointing fingers, and that’s all I’m saying.”

It is unknown if the Bahamian police are investigating the allegations, but Cherident said they sent them the list of suspects. The Bahamian police were unavailable for an interview with The Haitian Times, seeking comment for this article.

Despite being one of the most prominent rappers in the Haitian Music Industry (HMI) in recent years, Désir does not have a visa to travel to the United States, highlighting the lack of assistance and support Haitian artists receive. His disappearance after allegedly attempting to travel to the U.S. illegally by boat underscores the dangers artists face when taking matters into their own hands due to the lack of opportunities in Haiti. 

Similar to Désir, many Haitians have attempted to travel to the U.S. illegally in search of a better life, with some going missing or dying.

A vessel carrying 40 to 60 passengers went missing on July 4 in Great Abaco, the same area where Désir was staying in The Bahamas. That was also the same day family members stopped hearing from the singer. However, it is still unknown if Désir was on that vessel. Cherident said the vessel Désir was allegedly on had about 20 passengers.

“Those people have to talk. They have to say, ‘Yes, the boat sank, or no it didn’t sink.’”

Chero Chérident, MechansT’s production manager

A delayed trip

Désir traveled to Great Abaco in The Bahamas for a concert on May 18 but decided to stay longer for a vacation from Haiti, his brother, Steeven, said. The Haitian rapper allegedly awaited his trip to Miami during his extended stay.

However, Cherident said, based on his investigation, that the organizers kept postponing the date. According to text messages shared by his production manager, Désir was eager to go to Miami and could not wait any longer.

“Bro, what’s up? Today is Tuesday,” Désir told Petitphat in a message originally written in Creole on July 2. “I just want to remind you to get it done without problems because this week, there’s no room for errors, my brother. Take care of me.”

Cherident sent a screenshot of the messages to The Haitian Times.

“Yo, I already talked to you, buddy,” Petitphat replied, also in Creole. “Let the guy handle it in the coming days.”

However, on July 3, Désir seemingly gave up and did not want to go to Miami anymore.

“Today is Wednesday the third [sic],” Désir wrote. “I hope that I will get my money by Friday because Peter is asking for the Airbnb. So I can get money and go to my country. I’m done with all this.”

Cherident said Petitphat sent him those messages to try “to show that Mech [MechansT] said he was going to Haiti and that he doesn’t know anything about the trip.”

Trip disrupted, organizers silent

However, some people told Cherident they saw Désir on the boat. Désir also sent a video of himself wearing a red life jacket on a boat to his wife on July 4. Why Désir allegedly went on the trip after asking for his money back and calling it quits is unknown.

Cherident provided a screenshot to The Haitian Times as proof that Désir sent $3,500 to Corneille via Zelle on May 21. Later, he gave Petitphat the rest of the money, Cherident said.

According to MechansT’s manager, the boat supposedly experienced a mechanical failure on July 4, though it remains unknown in which part. On July 5, around 10:00 a.m., Lubin said he would pick up the passengers in Miami, but Cherident said he does not know if that ever happened.

“Lubin called us and told us he was going to get Mech,” Cherident said. “Lubin said he was going to get them but never came back… I wrote him and wrote and wrote him again. He never answered. I said ‘Lubin, you don’t even need to say anything, just yes or no is he here.’ But he never replied.”

Many people have said that Désir’s entourage knew about the illegal trip beforehand, but Cherident denied that assumption, stating that all the information he gathered is from an investigation he conducted alongside other people.

Meanwhile, Cherident hopes that the U.S. Coast Guard and Immigration Control Enforcement agents intercepted the vessel and that they are taking a long time to release the passengers. Désir has two children who miss him dearly, the singer’s manager added.

“His family is going through a rough time. “Two months isn’t two days or two weeks.”

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MechansT’s manager accuses six men of organizing illegal U.S. trip linked to missing rapper was first posted on September 5, 2024 at 8:42 am.