Bazile Richardson accused of funding gang in Haiti arrested, FBI says

A man arrested in Houston last month is accused of financing the group of violent gangs that have occupied Port-au-Prince.

Bazile Richardson is accused of sending or directing money to Haiti so gang members could purchase firearms and vehicles, and so that gang members could be paid salaries, according to charging documents. 

Richardson was born in Haiti and is the owner of a trucking business. He lived with his family in North Carolina, according to court records.

Federal prosecutors allege that Richardson sent money to Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, a former police officer and current leader of Viv Ansanm, a gang alliance that occupies Port-au-Prince.

Richardson had been under investigation since at least mid-2022, according to court records detailing his communications with Cherizier.

An arrest warrant was issued on July 17, and he was arrested July 23 in Houston.