Gang Member Involved In Many Shootings Gets 14 Years In Prison: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT —Devin Suggs, 20, of New Haven, was sentenced in U.S. District Court Thursday to 168 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent New Haven street gang and several gang-related shootings, per the Justice Department.

According to Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, "in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating an ongoing gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city."

The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven, the U.S. Attorney said. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020, according to a Justice Department news release.

According to Avery, court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that Suggs and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence.

Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 20, Suggs pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that he took part in five shootings between April 2021 and January 2023, the U.S. Attorney said.

As a result of these shootings, on April 27, 2021, a rival gang member was shot in the leg; on May 14, 2021, a rival gang member was shot in the leg and torso; and on May 20, 2021, one victim was shot in the back and another victim was shot in the leg, per the Justice Department.

"On January 20, 2023, Suggs and other Exit 8 members stole an SUV in Scarsdale, New York, and, later that day, he and Exit 8 member Nyzaire Barnes committed a drive-by shooting of a rival gang member in New Haven," Avery said. "The victim was shot in the head, but survived the attack."

Suggs has been detained since August 3, 2023. Barnes, also known as “Melo,” pleaded guilty and, on June 20, 2024, was sentenced to 125 months of imprisonment, officials said.