US Grand Jury Indicts One Of Haiti’s Most Powerful Gang Leader

UNITED STATES – A federal grand jury has indicted Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” and U.S. citizen Bazile Richardson for conspiring to fund gang violence in Haiti and violate U.S. sanctions.

The FBI’s Miami office is leading efforts to bring Chérizier to justice. He heads the Viv Ansanm gang federation, which controls much of Port-au-Prince, and carries a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

The indictment alleges the pair solicited money from the Haitian diaspora to pay gang salaries and purchase weapons. Violence tied to Chérizier has forced the resignation of former Haitian leaders and displaced thousands.