The FBI has recently revealed charges against a group of violent gang members in Connecticut.
This operation marks a significant crackdown on gangs in order to reclaim the neighborhoods of Hartford.
The Hoodstar Gzz, a notorious gang that has been causing chaos in the capital city for years, had their announcement made at the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Haven.
Seven individuals have been charged with a range of serious offenses including racketeering, murder, and drug and gun charges.
According to the FBI, the gang was established in 2010.
“The Hoodstarz gang, along with its members and associates, instilled fear within the Hartford community by engaging in acts of violence and making threatening gestures,” stated David Jaffe, an official from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department.
In 2011, the gang leader met his demise, triggering a transformation within the gang and an escalation in their level of violence. Consequently, a gang war erupted between the Hoodstar Gzz and a rival gang known as the Ave.
Throughout the extensive investigation that lasted for several years, multiple individuals lost their lives, while others sustained gunshot wounds. Abundant evidence was gathered, including their online activities on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, as well as their interstate travels.
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steven Shapiro pointed out the alarming situation in the neighborhood where the Houston Police Department (HPD) found over 50 spent shell casings from a single shooting incident. Within just one block, there is a community center, an event hall, and multiple churches. This highlights the proximity of such violent incidents to places of community gathering and worship.
In a devastating incident, a three-year-old boy lost his life one night in 2021. The tragedy struck again mere hours later when Hoodstar Gzz took the life of a member from the Ave.
According to Vanessa Roberts Avery, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, the gang expanded their operation to Vermont as well.
“There is an ongoing conflict happening, and it’s not just your typical rivalry between local gangs. We have a group of aggressive South American individuals attempting to infiltrate and expand their influence within gang territories in Hartford,” stated Cornell Lewis, a dedicated community activist in Hartford.
The FBI stated that they found evidence on the members, which included rap videos and other messages posted online, where they bragged about committing murders and engaging in drug deals.
“They will most likely go undercover for a short period of time, but the allure of the business is too strong, and they will eventually return to their usual activities,” Lewis added.
Five individuals were already in custody on state charges, while the remaining two were apprehended last Thursday.