Kahliq Richardson, Possession of Firearm by Unlawful User, Vermont 2021

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Kahliq Richardson, 20, Sentenced to 30 Months for Possessing Firearm While Under Influence of Controlled Substances

Burlington, VT – In a shocking turn of events, Kahliq Richardson, 20, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III handed down the sentence in the United States District Court in Burlington, VT.

According to court documents, Richardson was at the Quality Inn in Rutland, VT on April 3, 2021, when he shot 19-year-old Jonah Pandiani in the head. Pandiani 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 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 that led to Pandiani’s death.

This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police, the Rutland Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy L. Fuller represented the government, while Mark A. Kaplan, Esq. represented Richardson.

Kahliq Richardson’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The PSN program is designed to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Richardson’s 30-month sentence is a significant blow to those who believe that reckless behavior should not be tolerated. As the investigation into the homicide continues, it is clear that Richardson’s actions had devastating consequences, and he will now face the consequences of his actions in the federal prison system.