Overview

• A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday charges Jimmy Cherizier and U.S. citizen Bazile Richardson with conspiring to divert U.S. funds to finance gang salaries and arms in Haiti in violation of sanctions
• Richardson was arrested on July 23 in Pasadena, Texas and is awaiting an initial court appearance in Washington, D.C.
• The State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering up to $5 million for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest or conviction
• Authorities allege the scheme solicited remittances from the Haitian diaspora, funneled funds through intermediaries and used the money to pay fighters and purchase firearms
• Cherizier remains a fugitive believed to be in Haiti and could face extradition hurdles due to the country’s unstable security environment