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US federal prosecutors have announced a criminal case against Jimmy Sherezi, a Haiti leader, known as the Barbeck, heading the union of gangs controlling most of the Port-O-PRENC.
The charge states that the 48 -year -old Mr. Cherizier, as well as the US citizen Basil Richardson, demanded funds from the Haitian diaspora community in the US to help pay the gang members and buy firearms in violation of US sanctions.
Mr. Sherizier, a former police officer, headed by Viv Ansanm (live). The United States offers $ 5 million (£ 3.7 million) for information leading to its arrest.
The group is accused of numerous murders, abductions and attacks on infrastructure.
“There is a good reason that the award for $ 5 million for the information leading to Celizier’s arrest,” US Prosecutor Jean Pira said on a press conference on Tuesday.
“He is the leader of the gang responsible for horrific human rights violations, including violence against US citizens in Haiti.”
Prosecutors say he is suspected of playing a key role in the La Saline 2018 massacre, which killed 71 people, more than 400 houses were destroyed and at least seven women were raped.
Prosecutors point out that Mr. Richardson, who was arrested in Texas, is a naturalized US citizen who grew up in Haiti. He resided in North Carolina before he was taken into custody.
According to the officials, also known as Fred, Fred Lev, Leo Danger and Lepe, he helped to raise funds that were used to pay the gang leaders and the purchase of weapons.
Both men assisted a “brutal criminal enterprise Bankroll Cherizier, which causes a security crisis in Haiti,” said US Prosecutor Assistant John Eisenberg.
He added that the United States “will continue to chase those who allow the violence and instability of Haiti.”
In May, US officials appointed Viv Ansanm, which controlled the capital since 2020 as a foreign terrorist organization. Earlier this year, the group announced that it declared itself a political party.
In addition to the United States, Mr. Sherizer is also under the United Nations, Canada and Britain Organization, which accused him of naming Haiti’s violence.
If arrested, it can be extradited to the US. However, it remains in the position of significant power on the streets and protected by his group members.
In 2021, President Johovenel Miza was killed by unspecified militants in Port-O Prince.
Since then, the country – the poorest in America – has been affected by economic chaos, which has little functioning political control and an increasingly fierce bandit war.
The gang control in the Port-PRIN led to an almost complete rupture of law enforcement, the collapse of medical services and the onset of food security.
In recent months, the Kenyan Security Service owners have not been able to return control over Haiti’s capital.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the country has fallen to a new level. The UN reports that 5.7 million people – more than half of the Haiti population – face acute food security and have more than a million relocation.
