Jimmy Chérizier Photo: Odelyn Joseph / AP / Profimedia
The United States has announced that it offers $ 5,000,000 to arrest an armed band chief of Haiti, Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue”, accused of violating American sanctions, writes AFP.
Jimmy Cherizier (48 years old) and Richardson bases were charged for transfer of US funds to Haiti, to finance the gang activities.
“A reward of $ 5,000,000 is offered for any information that will lead to Cherizier's arrest”, considered as “guilty of atrocious violations of human rights, especially violence against American citizens in Haiti,” said Jeanin Pirro, a Washington prosecutor.
Jimmy Cherizier is targeted by sanctions of the US Treasure Department of 2020 and UN sanctions of 2022. This former policeman runs an alliance of bands from Haiti called “G9 Family”, whose members are accused of crimes, thefts, rapes, drug trafficking and abductions.
In 2024, the “G9 family” participated in an organized attack that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, replaced by a fragile transitional council.
Jimmy Cherizier and Richardson bases, a naturalized American citizen who was arrested last month in Texas, collected funds from members of the US diaspora and transferred the money to intermediaries in Haiti. “Barbecue” used the money to pay the band members and buy weapons.
Haiti, the poorest country in America, has long been affected by the violence of criminal gangs, in the context of political instability. The violence intensified since the beginning of 2024 and over 3,000 people were killed in the first six months of 2025, according to the UN.
