The United States announces criminal charges against the leader of the Haiti barbecue

American Federal Public Prosecutors announced criminal charges against Jimmy Sherisee, leader of the Haiti gang known as “barbecue” who leads an alliance of gangs that control many Capitol in Port or Prince.

The indictment claims that Mr. Sheriseeer, as well as the American citizen Brazilian Richardson, 48, has requested money from the Haiti Diaspora community in the United States to help pay gang members and buy firearms in violation of US sanctions.

Mr. Cherizier, a former police officer working in Haiti, leads the VIV ANSANM group (live together). The United States offers $ 5 million (3.7 million pounds) for information that leads to his arrest.

The group was accused of multiple murder crimes, kidnapping and infrastructure attacks.

“There is a good reason for equaling $ 5 million of information that leads to the arrest of Sheriseier,” American lawyer Janine Peru said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“He is a gang leader responsible for hideous human rights violations, including violence against American citizens in Haiti.”

Prosecutors say it is suspected of playing a major role in the 2018 La Saline massacre, in which 71 people were killed, more than 400 homes were destroyed, and at least seven women were raped.

Prosecutors say that Mr. Richardson, who was arrested in Texas last month, is a homogeneous American citizen who grew up in Haiti. He was residing in North Carolina before his detention.

Also known as Fredo, Farid Lyon, Leo Danger, and Lebi Blood, helped collect funds that were then used to pay gang leaders and buy weapons, according to officials.

US Prosecutor John Eisenberg said that both men helped “the Foundation to report violence, which leads a security crisis in Haiti.”

He added that the United States “will continue to follow up on those who enable Haiti’s violence and instability.”

In May, US officials appointed Viv Ansanm, which took control of the capital about 2020, as a foreign terrorist organization. Earlier this year, the group announced that it announced a political party.

In addition to the United States, Mr. Cherizier is also exposed to sanctions from the United Nations, Canada and Britain, which accuses him of feeding violence in Haiti.

If arrested, it can be delivered to the United States. However, he is still in a great power in the streets and is protected by the members of his group.

In 2021, President Jovenil Moise was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Port or Prince.

Since then, the country – the poorest in the Americas – has been exposed to economic chaos, increasingly operating political control and increasingly warm gang war.

Gang control in Port or Prince led to a complete collapse of the law and order, the collapse of health services and the emergence of the food security crisis.

In recent months, a security force led by Kenyan, backed by restoring in the Howit capital.

Meanwhile, the country’s humanitarian crisis sank to new levels. United Nations reports estimate that 5.7 million people – more than half of Haiti’s population – are facing severe food insecurity and that there are more than a million people internally displaced.