In a significant turn of events, Germán Alejandro Rivera García, a 45-year-old retired Colombian army officer, was last week handed a life sentence by a Miami federal judge.
This sentence was meted out due to Rivera García’s involvement in the 2021 plot to assassinate Haiti’s then-President, Jovenel Moïse.
The aftermath of this killing sent shockwaves throughout Haiti, plunging the nation into profound turmoil.
The conspiracy web
Reports are that Rivera García’s stands as the second among 11 suspects who have been apprehended and subsequently charged in Miami.
US prosecutors have painted a grim picture, detailing an elaborate conspiracy originating from both Haiti and Florida.
This conspiracy aimed to recruit mercenaries with the mission of either kidnapping or assassinating President Moïse.
Alias “Colonel Mike”: A pivotal role
Known as “Colonel Mike,” Rivera García pleaded guilty in September, acknowledging his part in the conspiracy targeting the Haitian president.
Insights from court records reveal Rivera García’s deep involvement.
Reports are that on the day of President Moïse’s assassination, July 7, 2021, Rivera was with a convoy en route to Moïse’s private residence near Port-Au-Prince.
It is further reported that he had informed the change in plans, shifting the objective from a mere kidnapping to an assassination.
