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November 15, 2023 Vitel’Homme Innocent Added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List U.S. Department of State Transnational Organized
Crime Rewards Program offering up to $2 million The
FBI, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and
the U.S. Department of State, added
Vitel’Homme Innocent to
its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on
November 15, 2023. Vitel’Homme
is a Haitian national and leader of the Kraze Barye
gang, which operates in the Torcelle and Tabarre areas of Haiti and
actively participates in kidnappings for ransom, extortion, and car thefts. In
October 2021, Kraze Barye and the 400 Mawozo gang allegedly
kidnapped 16 U.S. citizens serving as Christian missionaries near
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The group included five children, including one
as young as 8 months old. The hostages were allegedly held at gunpoint and
most remained captive for 61 days before escaping. Vitel’Homme was charged for his
role in the conspiracy along with other gang leaders on
November 7, 2022.  This image shows part of the FBI Ten Most Wanted
Fugitive poster for Vitel'Homme Innocent. In
addition, on October 7, 2022, Vitel’Homme allegedly ordered gang
members to kidnap two U.S. citizens from their home in Haiti. Armed gang
members allegedly forced entry into the victims' residence and attempted to
kidnap them. During the kidnapping, the gang members allegedly shot and
killed one of the victims. The other victim was taken into captivity and held
hostage at an undisclosed location in Haiti, while Vitel’Homme
participated in ransom negotiations in exchange for the victim's release. On
October 28, 2022, the gang released the remaining victim after the victim's
family paid ransom payments. A second indictment was unsealed on October 24,
2023, charging
Vitel’Homme for his alleged role in the kidnapping. "Haitian
gang leader Vitel’Homme Innocent is the 532nd fugitive added to the FBI’s Ten
Most Wanted list for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of
U.S. Citizens in Haiti," said FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey
B. Veltri. "The State Department is offering a reward of up to $2
million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Our resolve
to bring him to account for his alleged crimes will not waver." Vitel’Homme
is 37 years old and has black hair and brown eyes. He is between
5'7" and 5'10" tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Vitel’Homme
is believed to be in Haiti and has ties to other countries throughout the
Caribbean. If
you have any information concerning Vitel’Homme, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest
American Embassy or Consulate, or call the FBI at
1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. |
