A teenager who was allegedly high on crack when he shot and killed another teen in the head in 2021 has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s office stated August 1.
Kahliq Richardson, 20, formerly of Rutland County, was sentenced July 31 in federal court in Burlington to 30 months of imprisonment for possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered that Richardson serve three years of supervised release following his period of incarceration.
According to court documents, on April 3, 2021, Richardson was at the Quality Inn in Rutland when he shot 19-year-old Jonah Pandiani in the head. Jonah died instantly. The investigation of the homicide revealed that Richardson had a history of drug use and had been using crack cocaine in the hours before the shooting. The homicide and the investigation that followed resulted in the instant federal firearm charge, as well as state charges for voluntary manslaughter. The state charges are still pending.
In imposing the 30-month sentence, Judge Sessions “varied upward from the otherwise applicable advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines” in part to recognize the recklessness which led to the death of Jonah Pandiani, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
According to media coverage of Richardson’s state trial, Richardson told police Pandiani was his best friend. After using cocaine, they passed the gun back and forth when it accidentally discharged, killing Pandiani.
Also on July 31, a Springfield, MA man was sentenced in federal court for drug distribution in the Barre area.
Glendon Parrish-Cambell, 23, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III to a sentence of 42 months’ imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base and for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court records, during the months of March and April of 2022, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine base at a residence in Washington, Vermont. Law enforcement identified Justin Llano, aka “TJ,” and Glendon Parrish-Cambell, aka “B,” as drug traffickers distributing fentanyl and cocaine base from the residence. A Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was executed on May 13. During the search, law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 28 grams of cocaine base, and 400 bags of fentanyl.
Previously, as courts records show, on May 22, 2021, law enforcement found Parrish-Cambell in an apartment in Barre, with about 10,300 bags of heroin nearby and $2,428 on his person.
Categories: Crime
30 months for killing someone (2 1/2 years) ? There are stiffer penalties for tax avasion, stealing (over $900 value), and assault. This is not justice !
And why isn’t this POS, spending life in prison, a drug addict and having a
firearm, FED law ” 10 yrs ” and then killing someone……………………………
Guns kill people.
People kill people, with or without guns. Guns do nothing until they are picked up. They are a tool and like all tools they are only dangerous in the wrong hands. This guy didn’t get his guns at the local federally licensed dealer’s sporting goods store and was prohibited for doing so. If guns were banned only guys like this would have them to prey on law abiding innocent people. Liberal logic is equal to no logic at all.
Dano, all too true, but I think we should all take a step back and consider the futility of feeding the troll…just sayin’.
Dano, never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.
He/She, they/them or it is definitely a troll. I understand that, I’m just concerned about the other idiots sitting on the fence that a troll will convince. It’s almost like the troll is being paid to be here. Have no fear, I have dealt with numerous idiots before. They will never drag me down to their IQ level. Facts are facts and that’s all I speak about.
So do automobiles. Well over 40,000 fatalities annually on average. Serious injuries are even greater.
When are you giving yours up?
Please…..no more crickets; it’s so cowardly.
The resident communist has spoken.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/36WQBDQlcTo
Guns are sometimes “used” to kill people, whether justified or not. Over 200 Vermonters dies last year from ingesting street drugs. The drugs did not kill these people, the people who DECIDED to use the unregulated drugs killed themselves. Both a gun and a package of fentanyl will sit harmlessly on a table until some person decides to pick them up and use them, on themself or someone else Guns can be used to PREVENT crime or be used to engage in it. Opioids can be used legitimately to alleviate pain or they can be used for recreation, sometimes resulting in accidental overdose deaths. It all depends on the intent of the user. Get a clue…
No JayDee, people kill people, the gun was the tool that was used…
I hope you are all sick of your elected officials!!!
Two words, Protected Class.
This score will e settled with or without the judicial system.
According to our legislature, Kahliq is not capable of even remotely understanding that shooting someone in the head is dangerous, nor that dealing and using illegal drugs is either. You see, he is under age 25 and therefore cannot deduce the simplest of concepts.
Say, by the way, how the heck and why are colleges in Vermont handing out diplomas and degrees to young people then?? Wait a second…….UVM must have a logical answer here, correct?
UVM? Middlebury? Bennington College?
30 months for killing someone, how absurd. You were doing drugs, you had a weapon and you shot your friend in the head. That sounds more like 50 years in jail which most people would’ve gotten. That sentence is way too short.
This story is badly worded. The man got 30 months for illegal firearms possession. The trial for manslaughter has not happened yet.
Or did I read it wrong?
You are correct in being confused. The article says, “The homicide and the investigation that followed resulted in the (instant) federal firearm charge, as (well as state charges for voluntary manslaughter. The state charges are still pending”). Then it says, “According to media coverage of Richardson’s (state trial), Richardson told police Pandiani was his best friend. After using cocaine, they passed the gun back and forth when it accidentally discharged, killing Pandiani”. Perhaps we could get clarification from the news source of this article. It appears there were two trials but this is definitely confusing.