US federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Jimmy Cherizier, a gang leader known as “Barbecue,” who heads an alliance of gangs controlling much of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The indictment states that Cherizier, along with Bazile Richardson, a 48-year-old US citizen, solicited funds from the Haitian diaspora in the US to finance gang operations and acquire firearms, actions which violate US sanctions.
Cherizier, a former police officer, currently remains at large in Haiti and leads a group called Viv Ansanm (Live Together). The US government has placed a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. Viv Ansanm has been implicated in various crimes, including murders, kidnappings, and assaults on infrastructure. Prosecutors allege Cherizier played a significant role in the 2018 La Saline massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 71 individuals and extensive destruction of property.
Richardson, who was arrested in Texas, is a naturalized US citizen who previously lived in North Carolina. He is accused of helping to raise funds that supported Cherizier’s gang activities. Officials stated both men were instrumental in financing Cherizier’s operations, which have contributed to the deteriorating security situation in Haiti.
In May, the US designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization, acknowledging that the group has dominated the capital since 2020. In addition to US sanctions, Cherizier is also targeted by the United Nations, Canada, and Britain for his role in escalating violence in Haiti.
Should Cherizier be arrested, he could face extradition to the US; however, his current influence and the protection he enjoys from gang members pose significant challenges. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti has experienced severe economic instability and increasing gang violence, resulting in a humanitarian crisis affecting more than half of its population. Recent UN-backed efforts to restore order in Port-au-Prince have not yet succeeded.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4djdwyyxgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss