Donell Allick, Jr., also known as "D-Nice," a 26-year-old resident of New Haven, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden imposed the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release, for Allick's involvement with a violent street gang based in New Haven and participation in a murder that occurred in September 2022.
The announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, along with other law enforcement officials, including John P. Doyle, Jr., State's Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District, and special agents from the ATF, FBI, and DEA. The New Haven Police Chief, Karl Jacobson, also participated.
The criminal activities of Allick and members of the Exit 8 gang have been under investigation by a collaborative effort of federal and local law enforcement agencies. The gang, named after an area accessible via Interstate 91's Exit 8 in New Haven, has been associated with violence and drug trafficking. According to court records, since June 2018, the gang has been responsible for at least three murders and multiple attempted murders. The gang's activities also included vehicle thefts and the use of stolen vehicles in violent crimes. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube were used to promote and coordinate these acts.
Allick admitted guilt on August 1, 2024, for conspiracy in racketeering activities, including violence, narcotics trafficking, and firearms sales. Specifically, he admitted his role in the shooting of Kenneth Cloud on September 16, 2022. Cloud was paralyzed from the incident and died three months afterward. Evidence collected at the scene linked firearms found in Allick's vehicle and home to the crime.
Since his arrest on November 10, 2022, Allick has remained in detention. He previously received a 115-month sentence in a separate case, which will run concurrently with his latest sentence.
This investigation was conducted with contributions from multiple police departments and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis and Rahul Kale.
This prosecution is part of various Justice Department initiatives, such as the Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Longevity, and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces programs, which aim to reduce violent crime and dismantle criminal organizations.