BOSTON, CMC – The former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston, Massachusetts of illegally obtaining a permanent resident card, commonly referred to as a green card, by means of a false statement.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said its investigation found that Jean Morose Viliena, 52, “concealed the fact that he ordered and carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.”

Viliena, who was convicted of three counts of visa fraud, will be sentenced on June 20, 2025. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023.

“Viliena knowingly lied to conceal his violent past, deceiving immigration authorities to come to the United States,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge New England Michael J. Krol. “The brave witnesses who came forward to testify in this case relayed their experiences of extreme violence and oppression committed by Viliena and his associates. “Thanks to their testimony, his fraud has been uncovered, and he will now face consequences for his violence and deception.”

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said: “The political corruption and violence that the people of Haiti endured at the direction of Jean Morose Viliena, is appalling.

“The United States is not where you come to hide from your crimes,” she said, stating that the “conviction is proof that running away from your crimes and lying to federal officials will catch up to you.

“I applaud the courage of the witnesses who spoke up about the abuse they suffered as a result of Vilienm,” Foley added.

Head of the US Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti said that “a jury found that Jean Morose Viliena lied his way into gaining entrance into the United States after committing unspeakable acts of violence in Haiti.

“The Justice Department will not stand for human rights violators illegally entering and roaming the streets of our communities,” he said. “Thank you to the brave victims and witnesses who helped our law enforcement partners and prosecutors begin to hold Viliena accountable for his crimes.”

Jennifer De La O, director of Field Operations, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Boston Field Office, said: “The men and women of CBP work diligently alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of the people in our communities.

“Emigrating to the United States is a privilege and, if you conceal your criminal conduct to deceive your way into this country, you will ultimately be detected, held accountable and brought to justice,” she said.

According to court documents, Viliena was the mayor of Les Irois, Haiti from December 2006 until at least February 2010.

As a candidate and as mayor, ICE said 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,” ICE said. “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, as mayor, Viliena was involved in several instances of violence. The first occurred July 27, 2007 when a witness spoke at a judicial proceeding in Les Irois on behalf of a neighbor who had been assaulted by Viliena.

In reprisal for that testimony, that evening, Viliena led an armed group to that witness’ home, where Viliena and his associates shot and killed the witness’ younger brother, and then smashed his skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders, the indictment says.

It says the second incident occurred in or around April 2008, when a group of local journalists and activists founded a community radio station.

According to court documents, Viliena opposed establishment of the radio station and, on April 8, 2008, mobilized members of his staff and the Korega militia to forcibly shut down the radio station and seize its broadcasting equipment.

“At that time, Viliena distributed firearms to the Korega militia members, some of whom also carried machetes and picks,” the indictment says. “On the day of the attack on the radio station, Viliena pistol-whipped an individual with his gun and struck him with his fists.

“When the individual tried to flee, Viliena ordered one of his associates to shoot and kill him,” it adds. “Shots were fired which hit the individual in the leg.

“The individual spent several months in various hospitals, and his leg was later amputated above his knee,” the indictment continued.

It says Another individual, also a citizen of Haiti, became a target of Viliena because of his association with the radio station.

On the day of the attack of the radio station, the indictment says “that individual was present and when he tried to flee, he was hit by a bullet in the face.

“He required months of intensive medical treatment, including two surgeries to extract shotgun pellets from his face, which left him permanently blind in one eye,” the indictment adds.

According to court documents, pieces of shotgun pellets remain in the individual’s scalp and arms.

ICE said that, on June 3, 2008, Viliena presented himself at the US Embassy Consular Office in Port au Prince, Haiti where he applied for a visa to enter the United States.

“The form specifically requires that each applicant state whether they have ‘ordered, carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people,’” ICE said. “Viliena falsely responded that he had not.

“Viliena thereafter, swore before a US Consular Officer that the contents of the application were true and signed the application,” it added.

Court documents reveal that the US Department of State approved Viliena’s visa application.

On July 14, 2008, ICE said Viliena entered the United States and was later granted lawful permanent residence status, and received a permanent resident card.

Viliena used his permanent resident card on numerous occasions to enter the United States, ICE said.

It said 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 US$250,000.