US announces criminal charges against Haitian gang leader Barbecue
US Federal prosecutors pioneered the alliance of the gangs that control most of the capital of Port-Aau-Prince against the Haiti gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, known as “barbecue”.
The indictment, as well as 48 -year -old US citizen Bazil Richardson, as well as Mr. Cherizier, claims that he demanded funds to pay to gang members from the Haiti Diaspora community in the United States and to buy firearms by violating US sanctions.
Mr. Cherizier, a large police officer in Haiti, directs his group to Viv Ansanm (live together). The US offers $ 5 million ($ 3.7 million) for the information that led to its arrest.
The group is accused of attacks on multiple murders, kidnapping and infrastructure.
“There is a good reason for a $ 5 million reward for the information that caused the arrest of Cherizier,” US lawyer Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference on Tuesday. He said.
He continued: “A gang leader responsible for disgusting human rights violations, including violence against American citizens in Haiti.”
Prosecutors say that 71 people were killed in the 2018 La Saline massacre, more than 400 houses were destroyed and at least seven women were raped.
Prosecutors say that Mr. Richardson, who was arrested in Texas last month, is a US citizen who was grasped in Haiti in Haiti. Before he was detained, he resided in North Carolina.
According to the authorities, Lepe Blode, also known as Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Hazard and Lepe Blode, then helped to collect funds used to pay gang leaders and buy weapons.
US Chief Public Prosecutor John Eisenberg helped “Bemdir Cherizier’s violent crime attempt in Haiti”.
Authority, the United States “Haiti’nin violence and instability will continue to follow those who will continue to follow,” he added.
In May, US officials have identified Viv Ansanm, which has been controlled by the capital since 2020, as a foreign terrorist organization. Earlier this year, the group announced that it declared itself a political party.
In addition to the United States, Mr. Cherizier is under sanctions from the United Nations, Canada and the UK who accused him of feeding violence in Haiti.
If arrested, it can be returned to the USA. However, it remains in an important power position on the streets and is protected by members of the group.
In 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by unidentified armed men in Port-Au-Prince.
Since then, the country – the poorest in the United States – economic chaos has hugged very little political control and increasingly more severe gang war.
The gang control in Port-AU-Prince led to the almost completely deterioration of the law and order, the collapse of health services, and a food safety crisis.
In recent months, the Security Force, led by UN -backed Kenya, has not been able to take back the control of the Haiti capital.
Meanwhile, the human crisis in the country has reached new levels. The UN reports estimate that 5.7 million people – more than half of the population of the Haiti – acute food insecurity, and that there are more than one million -domesticated people.
