American grand jury charges a prominent Haitian gang leader and his accomplice

American grand jury charges a prominent Haitian gang leader and his accomplice

Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue," is a wanted fugitive in Haiti with a $5 million reward for his arrest or conviction. The U.S. Justice Department has indicted him for conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions and fund gang activities in Haiti.

According to the indictment, Chérizier leads the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which controls 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. The alliance has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. and has been linked to numerous attacks on key government infrastructure, prison raids, and a closure of Haiti's main international airport for nearly three months.

Chérizier is accused of organizing large-scale massacres in Haiti and has been fired from his position as an elite police officer. In June 2021, he held a news conference announcing the start of a revolution.

Bazile Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Haiti who grew up with Chérizier and lives in Fayetteville, N.C., is also indicted. He is charged alongside Chérizier for conspiring to violate these sanctions by soliciting money from members of the Haitian diaspora in the U.S. and sending these funds to Haiti to finance gang activities such as salaries and firearms procurement.

The FBI's Miami office is leading the effort to apprehend Chérizier. The FBI's acting assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division, Darren Cox, stated that the FBI is focused on crushing violent crime and that there is no safe haven for such individuals.

The indictment comes as gang violence continues to surge in Haiti's capital and beyond, with recent kidnappings reported. Experts and commentators note that Chérizier remains firmly in control in Port-au-Prince and beyond, and the effectiveness of the U.S. legal actions is questioned without the presence of strong multinational enforcement.

The Office of Haiti's prime minister did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the indictment.

Table of Persons Involved

| Person | Status | Charges/Role | Location | U.S. Action | |------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------| | Jimmy Chérizier ("Barbecue") | Fugitive in Haiti | Indicted for conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions, leading gang violence | Haiti | $5 million reward for arrest; indicted | | Bazile Richardson | Indicted co-conspirator (U.S. citizen) | Allegedly sent money/support to Chérizier, violating sanctions | Unknown (U.S.) | Indicted |

[1] The G9 alliance later became part of the Viv Ansanm gang federation, which controls 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. [2] Jimmy Cherizier, also known as "Barbecue," is a leader of a Haitian gang federation called Viv Ansanm, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in May. [3] The office of Haiti's prime minister did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the indictment. [4] Despite the indictment and reward, experts and commentators note that Chérizier remains firmly in control in Port-au-Prince and beyond, and the effectiveness of the U.S. legal actions is questioned without the presence of strong multinational enforcement. The current situation suggests that without direct intervention or negotiation, de facto gang control may persist in Haiti. [5] Both Jimmy Cherizier and Bazile Richardson are accused of leading a "wide-ranging conspiracy" to solicit money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora to fund Cherizier's gang activities in Haiti. The money was used to pay the salaries of gang members and buy weapons from illegal dealers in Haiti, most of which are smuggled in from the U.S. since Haiti does not produce weapons.

1. The G9 alliance, later part of the Viv Ansanm gang federation, controls 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.
2. Jimmy Cherizier, alias "Barbecue," is a leader of the Haitian gang federation Viv Ansanm, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in May.
3. The office of Haiti's prime minister did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the indictment.
4. The current situation in Haiti suggests that without direct intervention or negotiation, de facto gang control may persist, as the effectiveness of U.S. legal actions is questioned without strong multinational enforcement.
5. Both Jimmy Cherizier and Bazile Richardson are accused of leading a "wide-ranging conspiracy" that involved soliciting money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora to fund Cherizier's gang activities in Haiti.
6. The funds were reportedly used to pay salaries for gang members and buy weapons from illegal dealers in Haiti, primarily smuggled in from the U.S. since Haiti does not produce weapons. This illicit activity contributes to the surge of crime and violence in California and other states, negatively impacting the health, business, and infrastructure sectors, as well as contributing to the dynamics of politics and general news surrounding crime and justice in the country.

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