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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| US offers $5 million for information on Haitian gang leader, terror group head 'Barbecue' |
| 2025-08-21 |
| [HUMANEVENTS] The State Department under the Trump administration is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Jimmy Cherizier, the leader of the Haitian gang alliance Viv Ansanm. The State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist entity on May 2, 2025. Cherizier, widely known by the nickname ''Barbecue,'' is accused of driving violence and instability across the island nation of 11 million. A former officer in the Haitian National Police, he helped form the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies before expanding that coalition into Viv Ansanm, which unified several gangs opposed to the Haitian government. US officials describe him as directly responsible for murders, rapes, and other human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... abuses. The Department of Justice this week unsealed an indictment charging Cherizier with conspiracy to violate American sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Prosecutors say he avoided restrictions imposed in 2020 under the Global Magnitsky Act, which targeted him for his role in the La Saline massacre. During that 2018 attack, 71 people were killed, more than 400 homes destroyed, and women were assaulted by armed gangs. Related: Jimmy Cherizier 06/08/2025 Militarization of criminal organizations as a factor in criminal rebellion Jimmy Cherizier 07/19/2024 'Drop your weapons and recognize the state's authority', Haiti's PM tells gangs Jimmy Cherizier 03/15/2024 Development of democracy in Haiti |
| Posted by:Fred |