USCIS Assists in Investigation Leading to Visa Fraud Conviction of Former Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti
Defendant ordered and carried out extrajudicial and political killings against the Haitian people
BOSTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services assisted in the investigation that led to the conviction of Jean Morose Viliena on three counts of visa fraud.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston announced that the former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, was convicted by a federal jury in Boston of illegally obtaining a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to as a Green Card) by means of a false statement—specifically in connection with his ordering or carrying out or materially assisting in extrajudicial and political killings, and other acts of violence, against the Haitian people.
According to court documents, Viliena was the mayor of Les Irois from December 2006 until at least February 2010. As a candidate and as mayor, Viliena was backed by a political machine called Korega, which exerts power throughout the southwestern region of Haiti through armed violence. Viliena personally supervised his mayoral staff and security detail and led an armed group in Les Irois aligned with Korega. Under Viliena’s direct supervision, the Korega militia enforced Viliena’s policies by various means, including by targeting political opponents in Les Irois through armed violence.
According to the indictment, Viliena, as mayor, was involved in several instances of violence, including the fatal shooting of a witness’ younger bother, pistol-whipping an individual during an attack, ordering an associate to shoot and kill that individual who tried to flee, and shooting a second individual who also tried to flee.
On his application for a U.S. visa, Viliena falsely responded that he was not a member of any class of individuals who are excluded from admission into the United States, including those who have “ordered, carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.”
Based upon the false representations, the U.S. Department of State approved his application, and he gained entry into the United States and was thereafter granted lawful permanent residence status in the United States.
The charge of visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge imposes charges based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
This matter was investigated with help from members of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Interagency Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and USCIS.
Also assisting in the investigation were members of the Malden Police Department and Christopher Hayden, historian with the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) of the U.S. Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan, of the National Security Unit, and Alexandra Skinnion, of HRSP, are prosecuting the case.
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