On Friday, October 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Dimitri Herard for his support of the Haitian gang coalition "Viv Ansanm" and Kempes Sanon, leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the member gangs of the "Viv Ansanm" alliance.

"Viv Ansanm" was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization (SDGT) and a Foreign Terrorist Organization on May 2nd, 2025 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44822-haiti-politic-us-designates-viv-ansanm-and-gran-grif-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-official.html . OFAC is taking this action pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups, their supporters, and those who contribute to acts of terrorism.

Herard, born February 4th, 1986, in Port-au-Prince, is a former Haitian police officer and former Commander-in-Chief of the General Security Unit of the National Palace in Haiti. He was linked to the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and subsequently imprisoned by Haitian authorities for this assassination. Since his escape from prison in 2024, Herard has been in cahoots with the "Viv Ansanm" terrorist alliance and has supported numerous gang leaders by providing them with training and firearms. This support directly fuels the alliance's coordinated attacks against state institutions.

SANON, born June 16, 1979, in Port-au-Prince, is the leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the member gangs of the "Viv Ansanm" alliance, and has played a significant role in consolidating the alliance's power. SANON and his gang are involved in indiscriminate killings of civilians, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings in Haiti.

Following OFAC's decision, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.

HL/ HaitiLibre