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by Guy Page
The Jan. 15 federal indictment in Connecticut of seven members of the Hoodstar Gzz gang has shed light on a series of violent crimes and illegal activities linked to the gang, spanning both Connecticut and St. Johnsbury, the Caledonian-Record reported this morning.
The gang’s activities, which include murder, gun and drug trafficking, arson, and extortion, have been part of an extensive RICO conspiracy.
Three members of the gang have been tied to specific criminal acts in St. Johnsbury. Raquan Knight, known as RQ, was involved in a high-speed chase in Newport in 2022 and was found in possession of a significant quantity of fentanyl and cash. Paul Clarke, or Tommy Bunz, allegedly set fire to an apartment building while distributing drugs. Paul Downer, a.k.a. Luap Benji, has been linked to the shooting of Ryan Farnham over a drug debt and other local crimes, including fentanyl trafficking and aggravated assault.
A raid on a Portland Street residence uncovered large amounts of drugs, cash, and firearms, showcasing the extent of the gang’s illegal operations. Despite these findings, the case against Downer for the shooting of Farnham was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, highlighting the challenges in prosecuting such cases.
The investigation involved significant collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, with commendations given to specific officers for their detailed work in the case. This cooperative effort underscores the complexities of tackling organized crime and the importance of inter-agency coordination in such endeavors.
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Categories: Public Safety
Will these violent gang connected activities really receive long term incarceration, or will St Johnsbury have a revolving door to justice like Burlington ? We will see.
Downer was already released through the Caledonia Court and Judge Justin Jiron. Downer went on to murder a man in Connecticut along with the shooting of a pregnant store clerk in another incident within months of his release.
All government agencies involved in the investigation. Case dismissed for lack of evidence. R. I. C. O. Those firearms have serial numbers and if stolen should be checked for the owners and returned to the victims. There is a system that records all stolen firearms.
Apparently the inter-agency cooperation does not go as far as having the evidence to convict and get these upstanding citizens get their rewards that are coming to them.
With the feds involved, there’s hope. Federal firearms charges are no joke and often result in long sentences especially with drugs involved. Oh the price of diversity.
…Unless your name is Hunter Biden.
Have VSP profile and pull over every car load of gangbangers heading North on the Interstates and if they are overwhelmed, deploy the National Guard.
This must stop!
They are destroying our state.
A complete failure of the government to protect the citizens, due to rule by the left.
Next election cycle let all voters make the left… exit stage left!
Vote the bums out!
Story after story, picture after picture, it’s pretty clear what the problem is.
Did you ever notice that people who commit certain crimes look exactly like the people that you’d think would commit those crimes, because they look exactly like other people who have, in the past, committed those crimes?
I have. And you know what? Strange as it may seem they also look exactly like the ones who commit those crimes on L.I., NY and in Springfield, MA. and all over the country. It’s uncanny. No?
We’re just happy these fine but underprivileged young men were receiving their due reparations in the once safe Green Mountain State Why the Feds have yet again come into VT and upended this just & equitable process that our state has made so available to them, is beyond the VT legislators’ comprehension.
Under Vermont law, is it possible for a judge to forbade these “outsiders” from entering Vermont ever again? If they do, they face a mandatory lengthy sentence in prison at hard labor.
LoL as if these punks would obey THAT law. Many of them are repeat offenders caught returning to Vermont with drugs while having failure to appear warrants out on them.
In prison? At hard labor? In Vermont? You gotta be kidding me!
Welcome to the new Vermont.
State charges are an utter waste of time and resources anywhere in woke Vermont. I believe that Vermont’s US Attorney Kerest has announced his leaving and Trump will soon appoint a new one. We know that our new US Attorney will be a serious prosecutor and will know how to handle these cases, which always involve federal gun violations carrying serious penalties. LOCK THEM UP.
I am appalled that VDC posted the mug shots of these poor underprivileged disadvantaged minority youths. The least VDC could have done was to obtain photos from their high school yearbooks. Oh, what! You mean to say they dropped out of high school for the thug gangsta life. Wow, whatever would make you think that?
Somebody didn’t get the news story approved by George sorts before printing, tsk, tsk.
If you don’t have your own community organizer to approve, the mayor of Burlington is happy to review, modify any documents before release.
Also if St J or any other tons would like to join in on buying some kiosks for their town, perhaps they can get a bulk discount with Burlington.
Rumor has it they are $15k each but if towns are willing to chip in the Vermont nonprofit will sell them to the government for 2 for $35,000 or 3 for $60,000.
Seems the towns are taking advantage of this great nonprofit deal in other towns!
Oh they said if you don’t have hammers locally they can provide them in the kit, rent them for $150 so you don’t have to buy one, rent 3 for $600, local select board thought it was a great deal, wouldn’t have to store or maintain the hammers if they rented.