The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Dimitri Herard, the former head of Haitian presidential security at the time of President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination, and Kempes Sanon, a prominent Haitian gang leader. The action targets their alleged roles in supporting a powerful coalition of gangs designated earlier this year as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
According to the Treasury, Herard — a former police officer imprisoned for his alleged involvement in the 2021 assassination of Moïse — escaped from custody in 2024 and subsequently “colluded” with Haiti’s dominant gang alliance, Viv Ansanm. The department stated that Herard provided “training and firearms” to gang leaders and actively supported Viv Ansanm’s “coordinated attacks against state institutions.”
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Sanon, identified as the leader of the Bel Air gang, was also sanctioned for helping consolidate the gang coalition’s control over the country. The Treasury accused him of “indiscriminate civilian killings, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings in Haiti.”
“Today’s action underscores the critical role of gang leaders and facilitators like Herard and Sanon, whose support enables Viv Ansanm’s campaign of violence, extortion, and terrorism in Haiti,” said Bradley T. Smith, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The sanctions freeze all assets the men hold in the United States and prohibit any U.S. entities or individuals from conducting business with them.
Gang violence has devastated Haiti since Moïse’s assassination in 2021, leaving the nation in turmoil as criminal groups have seized control of major regions, terrorizing civilians and paralyzing institutions. Despite international efforts, Haiti continues to struggle with widespread insecurity and political instability.
