Tuesday August 12, 2025, an indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court (Columbia) charging Jimmy Cherizier, also known as "Barbecue", 48, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bazile Richardson, also known as Fredo, Fred Lion, Leo Danger, and Lepe Blode, 48, a naturalized U.S. citizen, with leading a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Cherizier to fund his gang activities in Haiti in violation of the U.S sanctions imposed on Cherizier. Cherizier is a fugitive believed to be Haiti. Richardson was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45485-haiti-flash-major-haitian-barbecue-sponsor-arrested-in-the-usa.html

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas N. Saunders for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert, and former Trial Attorney Benjamin Koenigsfeld. Significant support was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to apprehending Cherizier and bringing him to justice, along with individuals like defendant Richardson, who has sent money and other support to Cherizier from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Concurrent with the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Cherizier.

Cherizier is the leader of "Viv Ansanm", which was designated by the Secretary of State on May 2nd, 2025, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44822-haiti-politic-us-designates-viv-ansanm-and-gran-grif-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-official.html , and is a central figure responsible for gang violence in Haiti. Notorious for his total disregard of human dignity, Cherizier is directly involved in the mass murder and rape of Haitian civilians.

In December 2020, Cherizier and two Haitian public officials were designated for sanctions under the Global MagnitskyHuman Rights Accountability Act (Global Magnitsky) for their roles in the La Saline massacre and severe human rights abuses in Haiti.

Today’s reward offer complements the Department of Justice’s unsealing of the indictment of Cherizier in the District of Columbia, charging him with one count of conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Cherizier avoided sanctions placed on him in 2020 under the Global Magnitsky Act. His co-defendant, Brazile Richardson, also made his initial appearance in Washington, D.C., Tuesday.

Today’s reward offer is authorized by the Secretary under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice. If you have information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home . Information may also be provided to HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or online at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. If you are located outside of the United States, you may also visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are in the United States, you can also contact the local FBI office in your city.

All identities are strictly confidential. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.

Download Wanted Notice in French in PDF :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/avis-recherche-wanted-jimmy-cherizier-5-millions-fr.pdf

Download Wanted Notice in Englisgh in PDF :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/avis-recherche-wanted-jimmy-cherizier-5-millions-en.pdf

Download Wanted Notice in Creol in PDF :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/avis-recherche-wanted-jimmy-cherizier-5-millions-kr.pdf

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45485-haiti-flash-major-haitian-barbecue-sponsor-arrested-in-the-usa.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44822-haiti-politic-us-designates-viv-ansanm-and-gran-grif-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-official.html

SL/ HaitiLibre