Powerful Haitian gang leader and his associate face charges from a U.S. grand jury
In a significant move against violent gang activities in Haiti, the U.S. Justice Department has indicted Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, Haiti's most powerful gang leader, and Bazile Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen, for conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions and fund gang activities in Haiti.
Chérizier, the head of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, remains at large in Haiti. The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Chérizier is known for coordinating violent gang activities, including multiple massacres in Port-au-Prince, which he denies organizing.
Richardson, who grew up with Chérizier and resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was arrested on July 23, 2025, in Texas. He is accused of sending money and support to Chérizier in violation of U.S. sanctions.
The alleged conspiracy between Chérizier and Richardson began around December 2020 and continued through January of this year. The plan involved having 1,000 individuals give $20 each, 1 million Haitians abroad giving $1 each, and collecting money from 1,000 people for each of Haiti's 10 regions. The funds were intended to buy weapons, ammunition, and other supplies for the revolution.
The FBI's Miami office is leading the effort to apprehend Chérizier. The indictment comes amidst a surge in gang violence in Haiti, including the kidnapping of an Irish missionary and seven others from an orphanage this month. The gang federation, of which Chérizier is a leader, continues to attack peaceful communities in Port-au-Prince and is accused of helping gangs in Haiti's central region.
Chérizier, a former elite police officer, is accused of organizing massacres in Grand Ravine in 2017, La Saline in 2018, and Bel-Air in 2019, resulting in over 100 deaths. The gang federation, which he leads, has taken control of 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, and launched attacks on key government infrastructure, raided Haiti's two biggest prisons, and forced Haiti's main international airport to close for nearly three months.
The FBI is focused on crushing violent crime, with no safe haven for gang leaders or their associates. The surge in violence led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Two unnamed co-conspirators from Haiti live in New York and Massachusetts. In June 2021, Chérizier held a news conference announcing the start of a revolution.
The indictment alleges that Chérizier and Richardson led a "wide-ranging conspiracy" to solicit money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora to fund gang activities in Haiti, using the funds to pay gang members' salaries and buy weapons from illegal dealers in Haiti, many of which are smuggled in from the U.S. since Haiti does not produce weapons. Jimmy Chérizier, also known as "Barbecue," is a leader of the gang federation Viv Ansanm, which was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in May.
California's government has expressed concern over the general-news surrounding the crime-and-justice situation in Haiti, particularly the violent activities of the gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, who remains at large. Los Angeles businesses are advocating for increased support to improve Haiti's infrastructure and healthcare, hoping it can lead to a more peaceful environment and less gang violence. Science experts are studying the impact of such violent crimes on the psychological health of Haitian citizens, while politics analysts are discussing possible strategies to combat the surge in crime. In the face of these challenges, the LAPD Rams, a local community-policing unit, has pledged to work closely with the FBI to apprehend Chérizier and deter future gang activities. The federal government's focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing the spread of violent crime, both in Haiti and in the United States.
