July 12, 2026
Jean Wiltene Eugene, a 57-year-old American citizen born in Haiti and residing in Key West, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by a federal court in Washington for organizing the illegal export of weapons to Haiti. In addition to his sentence, he must pay a $20,000 fine and serve 24 months of supervised release, according to the decision handed down by Judge Carl J. Nichols.
The man had pleaded guilty on April 11, 2025, to one count of smuggling. “Eugene exported several firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. laws, without a license and knowingly,” recalled U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, stressing the seriousness of the offense.
According to court documents, Eugene used an export company based in Florida to ship vehicles to Haiti, in which he hid the weapons, surrounded by foodstuffs and other goods. During questioning, he admitted to sending two vehicles loaded with weapons between 2020 and 2021, and acknowledged that “nine guns purchased in Key West are currently in my gas station in Haiti.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI in Miami, with the support of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Commerce. “Anyone who violates the smuggling law faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison,” the Department of Justice warned, reaffirming its commitment to curb arms trafficking to Haiti.
