Antwan Hill, known as "Bandz," a 20-year-old resident of New Haven, has been sentenced to over 17 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden handed down the sentence of 215 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for Hill's involvement in violent gang activities and multiple shootings leading to two fatalities.
The announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge at ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's New Haven Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA for New England; and Karl Jacobson, Chief of New Haven Police.
Authorities have been investigating an ongoing gang conflict involving members of the Exit 8 street gang and rival groups within New Haven's Hill section and other city areas. The Exit 8 gang derives its name from a local highway exit and is linked to numerous criminal activities including drug trafficking and violence.
Investigations revealed that Hill participated in various crimes with Exit 8 members since June 2018, resulting in at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Gang members reportedly used stolen vehicles to commit acts of violence and coordinated their criminal activities through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Hill pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, admitting involvement in four shootings tied to his gang activities which resulted in two deaths. These incidents include attempts on rival gang members' lives on September 26, 2020; May 19, 2021; July 5, 2021; and April 12, 2022.
The case against Hill was built by federal agencies including ATF, FBI, DEA alongside local law enforcement like the New Haven Police Department with support from state entities such as the Connecticut State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis prosecuted the case under programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). These initiatives aim to reduce violent crime through community engagement and inter-agency collaboration focusing on disrupting criminal organizations.
Further details about OCDETF can be found on their official website.