WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The self-proclaimed “king” of Haiti’s violent 400 Mawozo gang, Joly Germine, was on Wednesday sentenced to life in prison by a Washington court for orchestrating the 2021 kidnapping of 16 American citizens, including five children.

Known as “Yonyon”, Germine was convicted in May of leading the gang responsible for abducting the Americans and demanding ransom while he directed operations remotely from a Haitian prison using cell phones.

The victims, part of a missionary group visiting an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, were held for weeks as the gang demanded US$1 million per person and later sought Germine’s release in exchange for their freedom.

The gang released several hostages after receiving a US$350,000 payment, but negotiations stalled as members pushed for Germine’s liberation.

The remaining captives eventually escaped on December 16, walking for hours through the Haitian countryside to safety.

At trial, prosecutors showed that Germine oversaw the kidnapping, determined ransom demands totalling US$17 million and coordinated decisions on hostage releases.

He was extradited to the United States in 2022.

In addition to his life sentence, he was fined US$1,700.

Germine had previously been sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2024 after pleading guilty to arms smuggling tied to ransom profits.

His former girlfriend, Florida resident Eliande Tunis, also pleaded guilty in connection with the case and received a 12.5-year sentence.