US federal prosecutors have charged Jimmy Cherizier, the infamous Haitian gang leader known as “Barbecue,” who leads a network of gangs controlling much of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

Cherizier, a former police officer still at large in Haiti, is accused of raising money from the Haitian community in the US together with Bazile Richardson, a 48-year-old US citizen.

The funds were allegedly used to pay gang members and buy guns, breaking US sanctions. Richardson, who grew up in Haiti and lived in North Carolina, was arrested in Texas last month.

Cherizier heads the gang alliance Viv Ansanm (Live Together), blamed for murders, kidnappings, and attacks on public infrastructure in Haiti. US authorities suspect him of being involved in the 2018 La Saline massacre, where 71 people were killed, over 400 homes destroyed, and at least seven women raped.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro stressed the seriousness of the charges, noting a [sh 780 million / $5 million] reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest.

Assistant US Attorney General John Eisenberg said both men helped “finance Cherizier’s violent criminal operation, which is causing a security crisis in Haiti,” and warned that the US will continue targeting those who support violence and instability.

In May, US officials labeled Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization. Cherizier is also under sanctions from the UN, Canada, and the UK, yet he still holds strong influence on the streets of Port-au-Prince.

Efforts to reduce gang violence include a UN-backed Kenyan-led security team of around 1,000 officers working to reclaim key areas such as the port, airport, hospital, and main highways. The team is also training the Haitian National Police, though they face shortages of resources.

Haiti has struggled with instability since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021. Gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, public services are failing, and the country faces a worsening humanitarian crisis. UN reports say 5.7 million people over half of Haiti’s population now face severe food insecurity, with more than one million internally displaced.

The US indictment shows a stronger effort to go after those funding gangs, but Cherizier remains free and firmly in control in Haiti’s capital, making enforcement difficult.