WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Friday sanctioned Dimitri Herard for his support of the Haitian gang coalition, Viv Ansanm, and designated Kempes Sanon, leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the constituent gangs in the alliance.
OFAC said Viv Ansanm contributes to the violence and instability within 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 Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Bradley Smith. “The United States is committed to holding accountable the violent terrorist gangs that endanger the Haitian people.”
Hérard previously served as head of the general security unit of the National Palace of Haiti.
OFAC described him as a former Haitian police officer who was connected to, and later imprisoned by Haitian authorities for, the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Since his escape from prison in 2024, OFAC said Herard has colluded with the Viv Ansanm alliance and provided support to many of the gang leaders with training and firearms.
“Herard’s support directly backs the Viv Ansanm’s coordinated attacks against State institutions,” OFAC said.
It said Sanon is the leader of the Bel Air gang, one of the constituent gangs in the Viv Ansanm alliance, and has played a “significant role in the consolidation of power of Viv Ansanm.”
OFAC said Sanon and his gang have been involved in “indiscriminate civilian killings, extortion, illicit taxation, and kidnappings in Haiti.”
Herard and Sanon are being sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having “materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of Viv Ansanm, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended,” OFAC said.
As a result of Friday’s action, OFAC said all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
In addition, OFAC said any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 per cent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
Unless authorised by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC said its regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
OFAC said violations of US sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on US and foreign persons.
OFAC also said it may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis.
In addition, OFAC said financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons.
It said the prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Furthermore, OFAC warned that engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated on Friday may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions.
OFAC said it can also prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that “knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.”