Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, widely known as “Barbecue,” has signaled his willingness to cooperate with the FBI, but under strict conditions. In a video message shared with Caribbean media, Chérizier emphasized that he would only collaborate if “there can be no lies told.” He specifically defended Basil Richardson, a U.S. citizen also implicated in recent charges, stating that Richardson never sent him money to fund gang activities in Haiti.
Chérizier leads the Viv Ansanm gang, one of the largest criminal organizations in Haiti, controlling nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince. The U.S. Department of Justice recently unsealed an indictment charging him and Richardson with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by transferring funds to support gang operations. The charges allege that between 2020 and 2025, the duo coordinated money transfers from the Haitian diaspora in the United States to acquire firearms and pay gang members, in violation of federal law.
“My name is Jimmy Cherizier ‘Barbecue’. If the FBI wants me, I’m here. I’m willing to collaborate with them on one condition. There can be no lies told,” Chérizier stated in his video, adding: “Basil Richardson, aka Fredo, is innocent. He has never sent any money to me to finance anything in Haiti. Stop with all those lies, and we can collaborate.”
The announcement comes amid intensified international efforts to curb gang violence in Haiti, including the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which has faced criticism over its effectiveness. Chérizier’s potential cooperation could severely weaken the Viv Ansanm gang and enhance the effectiveness of anti-gang operations in the country.
To aid in his arrest, the U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $5 million (approximately Ksh647 million) for information leading to Chérizier’s capture. His pronouncement follows federal charges against him for allegedly soliciting funds from the Haitian diaspora to orchestrate violence, underscoring the international dimension of efforts to hold him accountable.
This development marks a critical juncture in Haiti’s ongoing struggle with organized crime and may significantly influence the course of future anti-gang operations in the region.
