Jean Morose Viliena, the former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, was convicted by a federal jury in Boston on March 28 of lying on immigration documents to obtain a U.S. green card. The 52-year-old was found guilty on three counts of visa fraud, stemming from his failure to disclose involvement in violent acts during his tenure as mayor.
According to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation, Viliena concealed his role in extrajudicial killings and politically motivated violence in Haiti. The jury found that he had deliberately misrepresented his past when applying for a U.S. visa, claiming he had not participated in or supported such acts.
“Viliena knowingly lied to conceal his violent past, deceiving immigration authorities to come to the United States. 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,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge New England Michael J. Krol.
Viliena, who served as mayor from December 2006 to at least February 2010, was aligned with a powerful political group known as Korega. The organization wielded influence across Haiti’s southwestern region through armed violence. Under Viliena’s supervision, the Korega militia enforced his political agenda by targeting opponents with brutality.
Court documents outline a series of violent incidents involving Viliena, including a 2007 attack in which he and an armed group reportedly murdered the younger brother of a man who had testified against him in court. The victim was shot, then had his skull crushed with a rock in front of witnesses.
Another major incident occurred in 2008, when Viliena allegedly mobilized armed associates to shut down a community radio station that he opposed. During the raid, Viliena pistol-whipped one man and ordered another to be shot. That individual survived but eventually lost a leg. A third victim was shot in the face and permanently blinded in one eye.
Viliena applied for a U.S. visa at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince on June 3, 2008. On the application, he falsely stated that he had never participated in political violence. He later swore under oath before a consular officer that his answers were truthful. He was granted a visa and entered the U.S. on July 14, 2008. He later received a green card and used it for repeated travel between Haiti and the United States.
“The political corruption and violence that the people of Haiti endured at the direction of Jean Morose Viliena, is appalling,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “The United States is not where you come to hide from your crimes. Today’s conviction is proof that running away from your crimes and lying to federal officials will catch up to you.”
Viliena was indicted in March 2023. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2025. The charge of visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
