On March 18, U.S. prosecutors charged Johnson Andre, a prominent Haitian gang leader commonly known as Izo, with holding an American citizen captive in Haiti. The charges were announced in a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington on Tuesday.

Andre is believed to head the 5 Segond gang, implicated in kidnappings for ransom and theft, using the proceeds to finance weapons and pay gang members.

In recent years, Haiti's violent gangs have extended their influence in the country, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, during a prolonged security crisis featuring frequent gun battles that have endangered numerous civilians.

According to U.S. prosecutors, armed gang members kidnapped a U.S. citizen on March 18, 2023, forcing the individual into a vehicle and transporting them to Village de Dieu outside the capital.

The criminal complaint states that the victim endured nine days of captivity, suffering physical abuse including beatings and burns with hot plastic. Allegedly, Andre personally negotiated a ransom with the victim's family for their release.

The U.S. citizen was freed after an undisclosed ransom was paid, as per the statement.