State Department Offers Reward for Haitian Gang Leader
The State Department has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Jimmy “Barbecue” Sherizier, a notorious leader of a Haitian gang. This decision comes as Sherizier faces allegations of funneling money from the U.S. to support criminal activities, as revealed in a statement made on Tuesday.
U.S. authorities are offering this prize to anyone who can assist in locating Sherizier, who is wanted for violating U.S. sanctions by allegedly using funds from the U.S. to aid his gang, Viv Ansanm. The Department of Justice has formally indicted him for these actions.
Chris Lundberg, senior director at the International Bureau of Drugs and Law Enforcement Affairs, stated, “The State Department is committed to using all available tools, including reward programs, to address the issue of transnational organized crime and the violence associated with it.”
Sherizier is said to lead Viv Ansanm, an organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S., notorious for its significant influence in Port-au-Prince. This organization was created to consolidate various gangs against the government, leading to widespread violence that has displaced countless Haitians.
Reports indicate that Sherizier solicited financial support from Haitians residing in the U.S., working closely with Basil Richardson, his associate. The money was allegedly laundered through intermediaries and used to purchase weapons and pay gang members.
Richardson was arrested in Texas on July 23 and is currently awaiting trial.
Sherizier is believed to be implicated in multiple human rights abuses in Haiti, including a massacre in 2018 that resulted in the deaths of 71 individuals and the destruction of over 400 homes. Gang violence in Port-au-Prince has led to over 250 fatalities, with thousands more affected.
As it stands, gangs control around 90% of Haiti’s capital, according to United Nations estimates.
Officials stress that Sherizier and his U.S. associates have sought funds to further perpetuate the violence in Haiti. The National Security Agency is actively working to combat gang financing within the U.S. and continues to pursue responsible parties.
