Tyjon Preston, also known as "TJ," a 22-year-old resident of New Haven, has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden handed down the sentence for Preston's involvement in a violent street gang, which included two murders and additional shootings.
The announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Boston Field Division; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, federal and local law enforcement agencies have been investigating gang-related violence involving the Exit 8 street gang and rival groups in various parts of New Haven. The Exit 8 gang derives its name from an area accessed via Interstate 91 at Exit 8. Members have recently begun identifying with "Honcho," named after a member killed on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020.
Investigations revealed that since June 2018, Preston and other members engaged in drug trafficking and firearm offenses leading to at least three murders and multiple attempted murders. The group also used stolen vehicles to commit acts of violence and utilized social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube to promote their activities.
Preston pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024, admitting his role in several violent incidents between April and July 2021 against rival gang members. He has been detained since September 9, 2021.
This investigation involved collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies including ATF, FBI, DEA, local police departments from New Haven and Hamden as well as state authorities like Connecticut State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis is prosecuting this case under initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). These programs aim to reduce violent crime through coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies at various levels.
