July 23, 2025 — Federal authorities have arrested Bazile Richardson, a Haitian-born trucking business owner from North Carolina, in Houston, Texas, on charges of financing violent gang activities in Haiti. The arrest marks a major escalation in U.S. efforts to disrupt illicit funding streams fueling the Caribbean nation’s spiraling security crisis.
According to federal prosecutors, Richardson — a naturalized U.S. citizen — allegedly provided financial support to Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, the leader of the Viv Ansanm gang alliance, which controls large swaths of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. In May 2025, the U.S. officially designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organization, subjecting it to strict sanctions.
Charging documents allege that Richardson used intermediaries and covert methods to skirt these sanctions, funneling money to purchase firearms, vehicles, and pay salaries for gang members. Prosecutors say he relied on social media and encrypted messaging apps to solicit donations from Haitian Americans, instructing contributors not to mention the gang explicitly. In one recorded message, he reportedly warned, “They are watching everything because of the sanctions.”
Authorities also claim Richardson expressed support for Cherizier’s broader campaign to overthrow Haiti’s government — a movement that has been marked by violence against state institutions and civilians.
The FBI began tracking Richardson’s activities years ago, building a case that culminated in his arrest in Texas. After an initial court appearance in Houston, he was transferred to a federal court in Washington, D.C., where he faces charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). If convicted, Richardson could face severe penalties, including substantial prison time.
This arrest comes amid intensified U.S. action against Haitian gangs, which now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince and have crippled much of the country’s infrastructure. The Viv Ansanm alliance, in particular, has been linked to widespread violence, kidnappings, and the targeting of key government facilities.
