New Haven Gang Member Melo Sentenced for Shootings

New Haven’s Nyziare Barnes, alias ‘Melo,’ has been sentenced to 125 months in federal prison for his involvement in a violent gang and two shootings. The 20-year-old street gang member, associated with the Exit 8 gang, faced charges for conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity.

United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery announced the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release. Barnes’s role in the gang included drug trafficking and firearms use, leading to numerous violent acts, including at least three murders and 16 attempted murders since June 2018.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the ATF, FBI, DEA, and New Haven Police Department, targeted the Exit 8 gang’s involvement in an ongoing gang war. Barnes pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to participating in two of the gang-related shootings. His first incident was part of an attempted assassination of rival gang members on April 12, 2022. The second shooting occurred on January 20, 2023, where he and another member targeted a rival gang member with a stolen SUV from Scarsdale, New York.

Barnes has been in custody since August 3, 2023. Devin Suggs, another Exit 8 member, also pleaded guilty to the same charge and awaits sentencing. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiatives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together law enforcement at all levels to combat violent crime, while Project Longevity aims to reduce gun violence by engaging directly with high-risk groups. OCDETF focuses on identifying and dismantling organized criminal activities, including drug trafficking and firearms violations.

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