Heath Street gang member gets five years for Randolph shootout

A federal judge has sentenced Deondre Blanding, 27, of Roslindale, to five years in prison for engaging in a shootout in a pot deal gone bad on a residential street in Randolph, the US Attorney's office reports.

Blanding, one of 40 Heath Street Gang associates rounded up in raids in February, pleaded guilty in May to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to both prosecutors and his own attorney, Blanding went down to Randolph on the afternoon of Oct. 8, 2023 to buy three pounds of marijuana that he would then re-sell. But as he waited in the front yard of a house in the area of Bonnie Lane and Gallagher Drive, two guys pulled up in a Durango and opened fire on him. They missed and he returned fire, leading to a shootout in which none of the three, nor any nearby residents were hit.

Both Assistant US Attorney Sarah Hoefle and Blanding's attorney, Michael DiStefano, asked US District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton to sentence Blanding to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of probation - with an order to stay away from the Mildred Hailey Apartments - Hoefle to urge that Blanding be sentenced to no less than that, DiStefano to no more than that.

In her sentencing recommendation, Hoefle noted that Blanding had a record that included a September, 2018 conviction for illegal gun possession and wrote:

Thankfully, there was no evidence of anyone suffering injuries. While drug trafficking is inherently dangerous and harmful, here, the defendant's actions endangered not only the specific people involved in his drug trafficking activities, but also innocent individuals who lived or happened to be in the surrounding area. Any of the shots fired could easily have struck an innocent bystander.

By his actions, the defendant illustrated his not only his utter lack of respect for the law, but also, his complete disregard for the safety of others. The nature and circumstances of the offense warrant the requested 60-month sentence. ...

[W]hile the defendant has served prison time before, it did not deter him nor impress upon him the necessity of conforming his conduct to the law. To the contrary, despite such, the defendant decided to again ignore the confines of the law and possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At no point on October 8, 2023 did the defendant care about abiding by the law, let alone the safety and lives of others. Rather, he again demonstrated a complete disrespect for the law and posed a profound danger to the community. He and others tempted to engage in dangerous and serious criminal conduct must understand that any involvement will have harsh consequences, and a significant sentence of imprisonment is needed to do so.

DiStefano agreed with Hoefle's summation of the case against his client, but asked for leniency because of Blanding's horrible childhood and determination to finally break his cycle of crime.

DiStefano said Blanding's mother was an alcoholic, his father was fatally shot in the head when Blanding was 13 and his mother's boyfriend routinely beat him with sticks and belts, starting when he was just 6.

Mr. Blanding's life story, short as it has been thus far, is one of misfortune, abuse, neglect, and challenges which no young individual should have to endure. Mr. Blanding's history of trauma provides important context to his decision to participate in activities in the Heath Street gang. More specifically, Mr. Blanding's history of trauma and abuse along with his young age at the time of the offense, are critical factors that do not excuse but help explain why he chose to associate with the Heath Street gang. Associating with the Heath Street gang provided Mr. Blanding with status and confidence and catalyzed his self-perception from weak and abandoned to valued and empowered. While none of this is an excuse for Mr. Blanding's criminal conduct, the context of his tumultuous upbringing undeniably played a role in the crime.

He added:

A 60-month sentence of incarceration reflects the seriousness of the consequences for those who choose membership, association, or participation in the Heath Street gang. The sentence delivers a strong message to those who are presently members of the gang or contemplating membership: if you are a member of Heath Street gang or participate in Heath Street gang activities you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will serve a substantial amount of time in prison. This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and promotes respect for the law. Mr. Blanding does not need to be subjected to incarceration for more than 60 months to deter him from engaging in this conduct again. He has already paid a significant price for his conduct and will continue to do so.

And now, he continued, Blanding is turning his life around and four years on probation will help him get on the straight and narrow: Being barred from Mildred Hailey will keep him away from the temptations of life in the gang based there, he continues to "play a critical role in the emotional support of his two sons" with a partner who loves him, and while locked up in a federal prison in Rhode Island, he took classes aimed at helping him become a part of society. One of his former employers even told probation officers "he would be welcome back" after his release, DiStefano wrote.

In sum, the jointly recommended sentence fairly accounts for Mr. Blanding’s prompt acceptance of responsibility, includes a substantial punitive component of a 5-year prison sentence, and a set of meaningful restrictions post-incarceration to foster rehabilitation.