American law enforcement accuses Haitian crime boss "Barbecue" of planning to breach sanctions
In a significant development, Jimmy Cherizier, a former Haitian National Police officer and the leader of the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and allies, has been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury. The indictment, unsealed on August 12, 2025, accuses Cherizier of conspiring with Bazile Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to transfer funds from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions imposed on Cherizier.
Since his designation as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department in December 2020, Cherizier and Richardson are alleged to have led a wide-ranging conspiracy to raise funds for Cherizier's gang activities in Haiti, which are in violation of the sanctions imposed on him.
Richardson, who was arrested in Pasadena, Texas, on July 23, 2025, is expected to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday in the District of Columbia. He faces charges related to the same conspiracy.
The funds allegedly solicited from the Haitian diaspora in the U.S. were used by Cherizier to purchase firearms from illegal dealers in Haiti. This has raised concerns about the security crisis in Haiti, which is partly attributed to Cherizier's gang activities.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated that Cherizier and Richardson sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier's violent criminal enterprise. Acting Assistant Director Darren Cox of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division added that the FBI is committed to confronting foreign terrorist organizations wherever they operate.
The FBI Miami Field Office and HSI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices, as well as the HSI Miami Field Office, are providing valuable support in the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney's office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions.
As a result of this designation, U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of Cherizier, without an approved license from OFAC. The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest or conviction in any country.
Cherizier has been accused of being responsible for the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women were raped by armed gangs. He remains a fugitive and at large in Haiti.
[1] Justice Department Press Release, "Former Haitian National Police Officer and Leader of Gang Accused of Conspiring to Transfer Funds from the United States in Violation of U.S. Sanctions," August 12, 2025. [2] U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, "Indictment Unsealed: Former Haitian National Police Officer and Leader of Gang Accused of Conspiring to Transfer Funds from the United States in Violation of U.S. Sanctions," August 12, 2025. [3] FBI Press Release, "FBI Investigating Haitian Gang Leader as Foreign Terrorist Organization," August 12, 2025.
- The indictment against Jimmy Cherizier, a prominent figure in Haiti's crime-and-justice scene, alleges that he conspired with a U.S. citizen to violate U.S. sanctions by transferring funds, a matter of concern for public safety and politics.
- The FBI Houston, Boston, and Charlotte Field Offices, along with the HSI Miami Field Office, are actively involved in investigating the funding of Cherizier's activities, which are linked to the general-news issues of crime, violence, and health, as his activities in Haiti have been attributed to the security crisis there.
- The U.S. State Department offers a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier, a wanted criminal in Haiti who has been connected to the La Saline massacre, a notable event in the crime-and-justice sector in Haiti.
- In light of the unfolding events, Texas traffic may see increased law enforcement presence due to the arrest of Bazile Richardson in Pasadena, Texas, in connection with the allegations of transferring funds to a designated foreign terrorist organization, posing a significant challenge for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
