The indictment serves as a crucial step in addressing the increasing gang-related turmoil in Haiti, with profound implications for the local and international community.
**US Targets Notorious Haitian Gang Leader in Criminal Indictment**
**US Targets Notorious Haitian Gang Leader in Criminal Indictment**
Federal charges filed against Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier for financing gang violence and human rights abuses in Haiti.
In a significant move against gang violence in Haiti, US federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Jimmy Cherizier, infamously known as "Barbecue," who is leading an alliance of gangs controlling large areas of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The indictment accuses Cherizier, alongside Bazile Richardson, a US citizen aged 48, of soliciting funds from the Haitian diaspora in the US to financially support gang operations and procure illegal firearms, violating existing US sanctions.
Cherizier, a former law enforcement officer now evading capture in Haiti, leads a gang coalition identified as Viv Ansanm, meaning "Live Together." The US government has placed a $5 million (£3.7 million) bounty for information that could facilitate his arrest. According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Cherizier’s activities have been linked to numerous serious human rights violations, including violent incidents against American citizens residing in Haiti.
Significant allegations against Cherizier include his involvement in the infamous 2018 La Saline massacre, where 71 lives were lost, numerous homes were ravaged, and women were brutally assaulted. Richardson, who was apprehended in Texas last month and had lived in North Carolina, reportedly aided in fundraising efforts that empowered Cherizier’s gang and facilitated arms purchases.
Assistant US Attorney General John Eisenberg emphasized that both men contributed to sustaining Cherizier's violent operations, which have been pivotal in orchestrating a security crisis in Haiti. He affirmed the commitment of the US authorities to pursue individuals who contribute to the violence and instability in the region.
Notably, in May, US officials classified Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization due to its reign of terror over Port-au-Prince since approximately 2020, with the gang also recently attempting to cement itself as a political entity. Cherizier faces sanctions not only from the US but also from the United Nations, Canada, and the UK, all of which accuse him of instigating violence in Haiti.
Should Cherizier be apprehended, he might be extradited to the US; however, his power remains substantial on the streets, bolstered by the protection of his gang members. The socio-political turmoil in Haiti has escalated dramatically since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, marking a downslide into chaos characterized by lawlessness, economic desperation, and rampant gang warfare.
The pervasive control exerted by gangs in Port-au-Prince has triggered a near-total breakdown of law and order, as well as an alarming humanitarian crisis. Reports from the UN reveal that an estimated 5.7 million individuals or over half of Haiti’s population are facing acute food insecurity, compounded by more than one million internally displaced persons. The situation reflects an urgent call for both local and international efforts to restore stability in Haiti.
Cherizier, a former law enforcement officer now evading capture in Haiti, leads a gang coalition identified as Viv Ansanm, meaning "Live Together." The US government has placed a $5 million (£3.7 million) bounty for information that could facilitate his arrest. According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Cherizier’s activities have been linked to numerous serious human rights violations, including violent incidents against American citizens residing in Haiti.
Significant allegations against Cherizier include his involvement in the infamous 2018 La Saline massacre, where 71 lives were lost, numerous homes were ravaged, and women were brutally assaulted. Richardson, who was apprehended in Texas last month and had lived in North Carolina, reportedly aided in fundraising efforts that empowered Cherizier’s gang and facilitated arms purchases.
Assistant US Attorney General John Eisenberg emphasized that both men contributed to sustaining Cherizier's violent operations, which have been pivotal in orchestrating a security crisis in Haiti. He affirmed the commitment of the US authorities to pursue individuals who contribute to the violence and instability in the region.
Notably, in May, US officials classified Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization due to its reign of terror over Port-au-Prince since approximately 2020, with the gang also recently attempting to cement itself as a political entity. Cherizier faces sanctions not only from the US but also from the United Nations, Canada, and the UK, all of which accuse him of instigating violence in Haiti.
Should Cherizier be apprehended, he might be extradited to the US; however, his power remains substantial on the streets, bolstered by the protection of his gang members. The socio-political turmoil in Haiti has escalated dramatically since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, marking a downslide into chaos characterized by lawlessness, economic desperation, and rampant gang warfare.
The pervasive control exerted by gangs in Port-au-Prince has triggered a near-total breakdown of law and order, as well as an alarming humanitarian crisis. Reports from the UN reveal that an estimated 5.7 million individuals or over half of Haiti’s population are facing acute food insecurity, compounded by more than one million internally displaced persons. The situation reflects an urgent call for both local and international efforts to restore stability in Haiti.
