Haitian gang leader "Barbecue" faces U.S. charges for allegedly planning to breach sanctions
In a significant development, a U.S. federal grand jury has indicted Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as 'Barbecue', and U.S. citizen Bazile Richardson for conspiring to transfer funds from the U.S. to support Cherizier's gang activities in Haiti. The indictment alleges that they have violated U.S. sanctions imposed on Cherizier and his gang[1][3][5].
Cherizier leads the gang alliance called the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies, also known as Viv Ansanm, which has been designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist[1]. Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Haiti, is accused of conspiring with Cherizier and others to solicit money transfers from Haitian diaspora members in the U.S. to fund gang operations[1][3][4].
The funds reportedly were used by Cherizier to purchase firearms from illegal dealers within Haiti[1]. Richardson was arrested on July 23, 2025, in Texas and appeared in court in Washington, D.C., on August 12, 2025. Cherizier remains at large, with the U.S. State Department offering up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction, in any country[1][3].
The prosecution is led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, who emphasized Cherizier’s responsibility for serious human rights abuses, including violence affecting American citizens in Haiti[3]. Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd M. Lyons stated that the unsealing of this indictment marks a step towards accountability for Cherizier's actions, which include firearm procurement and trafficking networks, fundraising activities, movement and usage of U.S. dollars, and violations of sanctions[2].
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. 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[1].
The funds raised were used by Cherizier to pay salaries to his gang members and to acquire firearms from illicit firearms dealers in Haiti[1]. The U.S. government sanctioned Cherizier in 2020 because he was responsible for an ongoing campaign of violence, including the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 houses were destroyed, and at least seven women raped by armed gangs[6].
The Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, stated that Cherizier and a U.S. associate sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier's violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti[4]. The U.S. Attorney's office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions[3].
Sources: [1] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-indictment-haitian-gang-leader-jimmy-cherizier-and-us-citizen [2] https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-indictment-haitian-gang-leader-jimmy-cherizier-us-citizen-bazile-richardson [3] https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/us-attorney-jeanine-ferris-pirro-announces-indictment-haitian-gang-leader-jimmy-cherizier [4] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-eisenberg-announces-indictment-haitian-gang-leader-jimmy-cherizier-us-citizen [5] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-indictment-haitian-gang-leader-jimmy-cherizier-and-us-citizen [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-offers-5-million-reward-information-leading-arrest-haitian-gang-leader-2021-11-03/
- The indictment of Jimmy Cherizier and Bazile Richardson by a U.S. federal grand jury is a significant step in the law enforcement and crime-and-justice sector, as it aims to halt the transfer of funds from the U.S. to support criminal activities linked to the Haitian gang leader.
- In a remarkable turn of events, the funds raised by these individuals were reportedly used for traffic-related activities, such as purchasing firearms, which poses a threat to public safety both in Haiti and potentially in the U.S., given the involvement of a U.S. citizen.
- The indictment also raises political concerns, as it highlights the role of foreign actors in influencing local affairs and the potential for terrorism, as the gang led by Cherizier has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
- The health and general-news sectors could potentially be impacted as well, considering the association between criminal activities and increased violence, which can lead to rising crime rates and potentially health crises in affected areas. For instance, the gang led by Cherizier has been linked to the 2018 La Saline massacre, causing the death and displacement of numerous Haitian civilians.
