US offers $5 million bounty on Haitian gang king

U.S. Announces $5 Million Reward for Arresting Haitian Gang Leader

On Tuesday the United States offered a reward of five million dollars for the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, who is accused of violating U.S. sanctions.

Charges and Indictments

• Jimmy Cherizier (48) and Bazile Richardson have been indicted for conspiring to transfer U.S. funds to support gang activities in Haiti.
• Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested in Texas last month.
• Both men allegedly raised money from the Haitian diaspora in the United States and had it sent to intermediaries in the Caribbean.

Why the Reward?

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro explained that the reward is justified because:

• Human Rights Abuse – Cherizier leads a gang responsible for violent human rights violations, including attacks against American citizens in Haiti.
• Sanctions History – Cherizier has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since 2020 and U.N. sanctions since 2022.

The “G9 Family” and the 2023 Assault

Former police officer Cherizier heads an alliance of gangs called the G9 Family, whose members are accused of:

• Murder, robbery, and extortion
• Rape, targeted assassinations, and kidnappings
• Drug trafficking and firearms procurement

The alliance carried out a coordinated assault last year that ultimately forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, replaced by a frail transitional council.

Impact on Haiti

Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with large portions of the nation and most of Port‑a‑Prince controlled by armed gangs. Despite a Kenya‑led multinational force backing Haiti’s police, violence has continued to climb:

• At least 3,141 people have been killed in the first half of this year, according to UN Human Rights figures released last month.
• The National Security Division states that it will continue to pursue individuals who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.

Statements from U.S. Officials

Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said:

“Cherizier and Richardson sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll a violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti.”

He added that the National Security Division will persist in pursuing those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.