The U.S. is offering a $5 million reward for Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, a top Haitian gang leader currently leading attacks against the embattled government.
"He's a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro when discussing the development. He leads the powerful Viv Ansamn gang coalition.
Chérizier was sanctioned in December 2020 by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for leading armed groups during attacks in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. He was then designated a global and foreign terrorist earlier this year, and the gang a "Foreign Terrorist Organization."
Chérizier also made headlines this week after a North Carolina truck driver was indicted for allegedly assisting him in his attempt to overthrow the government in the beleaguered Caribbean country.
Bazile Richardson, born in Haiti, has been accused of providing weapons and money to Chérizier. Two unnamed associates have been charged as well.
According to the Miami Herald, federal prosecutors are claiming that Richardson and others have sent tens of thousands of dollars to Chérizier since December 2020. Funds were sent through intermediaries and wired to banking accounts in the country. They were then used to buy guns and vehicles and pay salaries to gang operatives.
Richardson was arrested in Houston last month. The indictment made reference to a voice memo he sent to another co-conspirator, saying he grew up with Chérizier and considered a "close friend of mine." "He's like a brother to me," he added.
"People cannot scare me because I live in the U.S. and I am not trying to conspire against the U.S. [Expletive] you, America. I am defending my country, which the U.S. embassy is destroying," he added, saying he knew he would end up facing prison or death.
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