U.S. offers $5M reward for arrest of powerful Haitian gang leader known as ‘Barbecue'
The surge in violence led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was locked out of his country while on an official visit to Kenya.
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The gang federation continues to attack once peaceful communities in Port-au-Prince, and it is accused of helping gangs in Haiti's central region.
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Also indicted is Bazile Richardson, whom officials say is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Haiti who grew up with Cherizier and lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
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Both are accused of leading a 'wide-ranging conspiracy' by directly soliciting money transfers from members of the Haitian diaspora to raise funds for Cherizier's gang activities in Haiti, according to the indictment. It stated that the money was used to pay the salaries of gang members and buy weapons from illegal dealers in Haiti. Most of the firearms are smuggled in from the U.S. since Haiti does not produce weapons.
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According to the indictment, there are two other unnamed co-conspirators from Haiti who live in New York and Massachusetts, and five others who live in Haiti.
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Cherizier said in a video posted on social media that Richardson never sent him money to finance anything in Haiti.
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'If the FBI wants me, I'm here. I'm willing to collaborate with them on one condition, there can be no lies told,' Cherizier said, speaking in English.
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It was not immediately clear if Richardson had an attorney.
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The indictment noted that Cherizier and Richardson have acknowledged the sanctions against Cherizier, adding that the alleged conspiracy began around December 2020 and continued through January of this year.
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One voice memo that an unidentified co-conspirator in Haiti allegedly sent to Richardson stated: 'If I have backup, we will take the power, and you will be able to come back to your country. You will need to serve in the new government.'
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Richardson forwarded the alleged memo to Cherizier in June 2022, nearly a year after former President Jovenel Moise was killed at his private residence.
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Another person identified only as a Haitian co-conspirator allegedly sent a voice memo to Richardson saying, 'we want to start a revolution in Haiti and are trying to collect funds.' Part of the plan was to have 1,000 individuals give $20 each or 1 million Haitians abroad give $1 each, as well as collect money from 1,000 people for each of Haiti's 10 regions, according to the indictment.
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'With this money, they can buy pick-up trucks, weapons, ammunition, clothing to include T-shirts, boots and hats. We want to change everything in Haiti,' according to one alleged voice memo.
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In June 2021, Cherizier held a press conference announcing the start of a revolution.
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A crackdown on violence
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The indictment comes as gang violence continues to surge in Haiti's capital and beyond, with gunmen kidnapping an Irish missionary and seven other people, including a 3-year-old, from an orphanage earlier this month.
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The office of Haiti's prime minister did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the indictment.
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Johnston said the broader strategy in the fight against gangs remains unclear.
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Darren Cox, acting assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, said the bureau's Miami office is leading the effort to apprehend Cherizier.
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'The FBI is focused more than ever on crushing violent crime,' Cox said. 'There is no safe haven for them, or the people like them.'
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