The United States has brought serious criminal charges against Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a powerful gang leader in Haiti. Prosecutors say he heads an alliance of gangs that has taken control of large parts of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. This group has been blamed for murders, kidnappings, and attacks that have left the city in fear.
The US government has also announced a $5 million reward for information that can lead to Chérizier’s arrest or conviction. He is accused of working with others to get around US sanctions, which are rules meant to stop people from funding crime or violence.
Officials say Chérizier, who used to be a police officer, now leads a group called Viv Ansanm, which means “Live Together” in Haitian Creole. This group has been in control of much of Port-au-Prince since around 2020. In May this year, the US named the group a foreign terrorist organization.
Details of the Criminal Charges
A federal grand jury in the US has indicted Chérizier for working with people in both Haiti and the United States to break sanctions. The charges say he and US citizen Bazile Richardson, 48, raised money from members of the Haitian community in America. This money was then used to pay gang members and buy firearms.
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Sanctions are legal restrictions that block individuals from using the US financial system, sending or receiving funds, or doing business with US companies. Breaking these rules is a serious federal crime. Prosecutors say Chérizier and Richardson knowingly worked to bypass these measures, channeling money and resources into Haiti despite the ban, in order to strengthen gang operations.
Richardson, also known by several aliases, was arrested in Texas last month. Prosecutors say he grew up in Haiti and later became a US citizen. Before his arrest, he lived in North Carolina. He is accused of helping gather funds and send them to Haiti to support violent activities.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said there is a strong reason for the $5 million reward, describing Chérizier as a gang leader responsible for severe human rights abuses, including violence against Americans in Haiti. Prosecutors also accuse him of being involved in the 2018 La Saline massacre, where 71 people were killed, more than 400 homes were destroyed, and several women were assaulted.
Assistant US Attorney General John Eisenberg stated that both Chérizier and Richardson helped bankroll a violent criminal network, fueling Haiti’s growing security crisis.
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Impact on Haiti’s Ongoing Crisis
Chérizier remains at large in Haiti, protected by armed members of his group. His influence in the capital is strong, making it hard for law enforcement to move against him. The US has placed sanctions on him, and he is also under similar sanctions from the United Nations, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, the country has been in deep political and economic turmoil. Gangs have filled the power gap, controlling large parts of the capital and limiting access to basic services. Health care systems have collapsed, and food shortages are severe. According to UN reports, over 5.7 million people in Haiti face serious food insecurity, and more than one million have been forced to leave their homes.
Attempts to bring stability have so far failed. A UN-backed security mission led by Kenya has struggled to take back control from the gangs. Violence continues, and life for ordinary Haitians grows harder each day.
The charges against Chérizier mark another step in the US government’s efforts to target those driving Haiti’s crisis. Officials say they will keep working to find and arrest him, but for now, he remains in power on the streets of Port-au-Prince.