ALEXANDRIA, VA—Samson Jolibois, 47, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was sentenced today to 192 months in prison, followed by three of supervised release for conspiring to commit hostage taking. Jolibois was also ordered to pay over $32,000 in restitution.

Jolibois plead guilty on Feb. 27, 2015. According to court documents, Jolibois was part of a criminal group that kidnapped and held hostage two U.S. citizens in the area of Carrefour, Haiti. The group targeted U.S citizens of Haitian descent who had returned to visit Haiti, because they believed these individuals to be from wealthy families. During two separate events, members of the criminal group took victims at gunpoint from outside their residences and held the victims hostage for several days while seeking ransom money from their families in exchange for the victims’ release. One victim was rescued by Haitian law enforcement, and the other victim escaped captivity.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:13-cr-303.