Yonyon Denies All Ties with 400 Mawozo Group and Kidnapping of American Missionaries

During his testimony before a federal court in Washington on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Germine Joly, alias “Yonyon,” denied any affiliation with the 400 Mawozo gang and any role in the kidnapping of 16 American missionaries in Haiti, despite his recognized involvement in a vast arms trafficking network.

Germine Joly, a Haitian gang leader extradited to the United States in May 2022 on forty counts related to arms smuggling, denied on Wednesday before a federal court in Washington any connection with the armed group 400 Mawozo or with the kidnapping of American missionaries.

During his testimony, he stated that he did not belong to the 400 Mawozo gang, nor was he its founder, although this group claimed responsibility in 2021 for the kidnapping of 16 American citizens and one Canadian affiliated with Christian Aid Missionaries, an Ohio-based organization.

The missionaries had been kidnapped on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, after a visit to an orphanage. While some hostages were quickly released, the majority remained detained for nearly two months before being freed after an undisclosed ransom payment.

The gang presented their release as an “escape,” while the kidnapping was reportedly intended to negotiate the release of Joly, who was incarcerated in Haiti at the time. Known as “Yonyon,” Joly pleaded guilty in January 2024 to 48 counts of arms trafficking and money laundering, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. He admitted to selling weapons to the 400 Mawozo group but denied being a member.

Despite his denials, text messages presented by the federal government show his ties to arms trafficking from Florida and his relationships with 400 Mawozo. Weapons purchased from associates in Florida were smuggled into Haiti and used by the gang in various criminal activities, including kidnappings and murders.

Furthermore, the current leader of 400 Mawozo, Joseph Wilson, alias Lanmò Sanjou, is among the gang leaders sought by the FBI for the kidnappings of American citizens, and a bounty has also been placed on his head.

In light of this evidence, prosecutors decided to present a rebuttal witness, pushing back the trial's final arguments expected this Thursday.