Quaymar Suggs, a 20-year-old from New Haven, received a sentence of over 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden sentenced Suggs to 250 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement with a violent street gang and the murder of a rival gang associate in May 2021.
The announcement came from 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, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
Court documents revealed that law enforcement agencies have been investigating ongoing gang conflicts involving the Exit 8 street gang in New Haven. The Exit 8 gang derives its name from Interstate 91's Exit 8 in New Haven. Recent activities show younger members identifying themselves with "Honcho," referencing an Exit 8 member killed in February 2020.
The investigation found that Suggs and other Exit 8 members were involved in drug trafficking and firearms use since June 2018, committing at least three murders and numerous attempted murders. They also engaged in vehicle thefts to facilitate their criminal activities. Gang members used social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to coordinate their illegal operations.
Suggs pleaded guilty on July 1, 2024, to conspiracy charges related to racketeering activities including violence, narcotics trafficking, and gun sales. He admitted to killing an 18-year-old rival gang associate on May 19, 2021. Additionally, he confessed to stealing a duty bag from a Connecticut state trooper's car with other gang members.
Suggs has been detained since March 24, 2023. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis as part of several initiatives including Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
These programs aim to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities they serve. More information about these initiatives can be found on their respective websites.