The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced Tuesday the indictment of Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” leader of the gang coalition Viv Ansanm, on charges of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions imposed against him. The U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Chérizier is accused of conspiring with a U.S. citizen, Richardson Bazile, to raise funds in the United States to finance his criminal activities in Haiti.
As the head of the Viv Ansanm criminal alliance, Chérizier is alleged to have orchestrated a wave of violence that left more than 5,600 people dead in 2024 and another 3,000 so far in 2025, according to United Nations figures. A former officer with the Haitian National Police (PNH), he is now a fugitive wanted by both Haitian and international authorities.
“No Safe Haven” for Criminals, Says FBI
“Violent actors like Chérizier must understand there is no safe haven for them,” said Darren Cox, Acting Deputy Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, noting that the investigation — launched in 2022 — aims to dismantle “every link” in his network.
Authorities allege that the illicit funds allowed “Barbecue” to pay gang members, purchase weapons through local traffickers, and tighten his grip over strategic neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince.
In December 2020, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Chérizier for “gross human rights abuses,” freezing his assets and prohibiting any transactions with him. Despite these sanctions, officials say he continued to secure resources, including through intermediaries in Haiti.
“His actions to finance the oppression and slaughter of Haitians are unacceptable,” said Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling the indictment “a step toward accountability.”
The FBI has appealed to the public for assistance, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Chérizier’s capture. Despite being on the run, he remains active on social media.
“Someone knows where he is hiding,” Cox emphasized, urging anyone with information to contact the FBI anonymously.
The State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program says tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or via tips.fbi.gov. Information can also be sent to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or submitting an online form at ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
“The National Security Division will not tolerate the financing of criminal gangs from the United States and will continue to pursue those who fuel violence and instability in Haiti,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
While the indictment signals increased U.S. pressure, questions remain as to whether it will weaken Viv Ansanm, whose gangs hold near-total control of the Haitian capital. For many Haitians, exhausted by years of unchecked bloodshed, hope now rests on strengthened international cooperation to permanently dismantle these armed groups.
