Seven Hartford Gang Members Charged with Murder and Racketeering Offenses

Note: View a copy of the indictment here.

A grand jury in Hartford, Connecticut, returned a 15-count indictment on Jan. 8 charging seven alleged members of a violent Hartford gang with participating in a years-long interstate Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy involving multiple murders, attempted murder, gun trafficking, extortion, arson, drug trafficking, and other crimes.

"This indictment - which is the first RICO indictment since the launch of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Hartford in April 2024 - alleges that the defendants engaged in numerous violent acts, including shooting at suspected rival gang members and shooting and killing a motorist with whom two of the defendants got into a car accident," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Violent gangs like the Hoodstars terrorize local communities and threaten safety across Hartford. Today's announcement demonstrates that the VCI is already making an impact in Hartford, through the deployment of Criminal Division resources, in close coordination with our partners, to target the specific drivers of violent crime and hold gang members accountable for their crimes."

"We allege that members of the Hoodstar Gzz have engaged in murder and numerous other violent acts against both rival gang members and innocent civilians, and their criminal activity extended to northern Vermont, where they trafficked drugs and acquired firearms, some of which they transported back to Connecticut," said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. "This case is a clear demonstration of our commitment to relentlessly pursue and dismantle organizations that threaten the peace and security of our communities. The effort to connect these violent acts and bring these individuals to justice has been a collaborative one, and I want to thank the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved for their dedication to make our communities, both here in Connecticut and in Vermont, safer."

"For more than two years, the FBI and its law enforcement partners have worked tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle the Hoodstarz organization," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller of the FBI New Haven Field Office. "This violent criminal organization has been responsible for wreaking havoc in the Hartford area and its takedown is a positive step forward in the never-ending quest to keep our community safe. Let this be a firm message that the FBI and its local, state, and federal partners will remain relentless in the fight to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent criminal organizations."

"Criminal gangs terrorize communities, leaving violence and destruction in their wake," said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Haven. "These individuals have been charged with crimes ranging from firearms possession to murder and, if convicted, will face serious federal prison time. HSI works with our state, local, and federal partners to dismantle criminal gangs like the Hoodstar Gzzs and help communities reclaim their safety and their streets."

"The charges announced today reflect our relentless dedication to dismantling violent criminal organizations that endanger the safety and stability of our communities," said Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division. "Working hand in hand with our federal, state, and local partners, we deliver a clear message: those who choose violence and chaos will be held accountable, and justice will prevail for the citizens of Connecticut."

The indictment alleges that the Hoodstar Gzz gang, which since its forming in 2010 has referred to itself by a variety of names, including "Hoodstars," "Hoodstarz," and "Gz," generally operates between Capen, Westland, Enfield, and Main Streets in Hartford. The gang has allegedly distributed narcotics; engaged in multiple violent acts against rival gang members and others, including multiple shootings and murders; trafficked narcotics in Vermont; moved firearms from Vermont to Connecticut; utilized stolen vehicles in furtherance of the gang's affairs and burned vehicles that were used in the commission of crimes; and recorded and distributed rap music to promote the gang's criminal activity.

The indictment charges the following defendants, all of Hartford:

• Angel Rivera, also known as Rico and Slatt, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm to cause death, use of a firearm during the murder, and drug trafficking conspiracy.
• Raquan Knight, also known as RQ, 21, is charged with RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy.
• Paul Downer, also known as Luap Benji, 28, is charged with RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy.
• Mekhi Thompson, also known as Midnight, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm to cause death, use of a firearm during murder, and drug trafficking conspiracy.
• Paul Clarke, also known as Tommy Bunz, 30, is charged with RICO conspiracy and drug trafficking conspiracy.
• Tyshon Walker, also known as Pone Gwapoo, 26, is charged with RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and possessing a machinegun during a drug trafficking offense.
• Joshua Cruz, also known as Hop-out Curly, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, and possessing a machinegun during a drug trafficking offense.

Among the violent acts committed by the defendants, the indictment alleges that:

• On April 16, 2019, Thompson allegedly attempted to murder members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to three individuals.
• On Jan. 22, 2021, Downer allegedly shot a victim in the femoral artery for failure to pay a drug debt.
• On April 10, 2021, Rivera, Knight, Cruz, and other Hoodstar Gzz members and associates allegedly shot and killed a member of the rival Ave gang and wounded another individual.
• On Jan. 18, 2022, Rivera, Walker, Cruz, and other Hoodstar Gzz members and associates allegedly shot at one victim and shot and injured another.
• On Jan. 18, 2022, Rivera, Walker, Cruz, and other Hoodstar Gzz members and associates allegedly shot and killed one victim and shot and injured another.
• On June 19, 2022, Knight allegedly shot one victim.
• On Aug. 1, 2022, Rivera and other members and associates of the Hoodstar Gzz gang allegedly shot and killed one victim and shot and injured two additional individuals.
• On Sept. 14, 2022, Thompson and Rivera allegedly got into a confrontation with a victim over a rental car that Thompson failed to return. Thompson then shot and killed the victim.
• On Oct. 27, 2022, Thompson and Rivera were allegedly involved in a car accident with a black Nissan sedan and fled the scene. The Nissan followed them for approximately 1.6 miles. Thompson then allegedly exited the vehicle and shot and killed the driver of the Nissan.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. All defendants are currently detained pending trial. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, HSI, and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Windsor Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, St. Johnsbury Police Department, Northfield Police Department, and Vermont State Police.

Trial Attorneys Jeremy Franker and Christopher Usher of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Dearington, John T. Pierpont Jr., and Shan Patel for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont provided substantial assistance.

This prosecution is a part of the VCI in Hartford, as well as the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.

The Hartford VCI is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in Hartford. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.

PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.