The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Prophane Victor, a former member of Haiti’s parliament, and Luckson Elan, the current leader of the Gran Grif gang, for their involvement in serious human rights abuses in Haiti.
"Victor and Elan, through their influence over or leadership of the gangs in Haiti, have sought to perpetuate the horrific violence and instability," said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "Treasury remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to leverage human rights abuses, violence, and corruption to achieve their political aims."
The U.S. government prioritizes promoting accountability for gender-based violence. In November 2022, President Biden issued a Memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. The UN Panel of Experts report on Haiti highlights unprecedented levels of violence by gangs, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Today's action targets one actor directly responsible for gender-based violence and another that has provided material support to gangs engaging in such practices. Prophane Victor is accused of arming young men in Petite Rivière, Artibonite to secure his control over the area during his 2016 election campaign. These men formed the Gran Grif gang, which is now the largest gang in Artibonite and a main perpetrator of abuses including sexual violence.
Luckson Elan leads Gran Grif and is held responsible for serious human rights abuses such as kidnapping, murder, beating, raping women and children, looting, destruction, extortion, hijacking, and stealing crops and livestock.
OFAC has designated Prophane Victor under Executive Order (E.O.) 13818 for materially assisting entities engaged in serious human rights abuse by foreign persons. Luckson Elan is also designated under E.O. 13818 for being complicit or directly involved in serious human rights abuse.
As a result of these sanctions, all property and interests belonging to these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. Transactions involving these properties are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC. Violations may lead to civil or criminal penalties.
Financial institutions engaging with sanctioned entities risk exposure to sanctions or enforcement actions themselves. The prohibitions include contributions or provisions from any designated person.
OFAC's sanctions aim not only at punishment but also at bringing about positive changes in behavior by adding or removing persons from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List based on compliance with legal standards.
For more information on removal from an OFAC list or details on today's designations can be found on OFAC's website.
