Rutland Man Sentenced to 190 Months in Firearm and Drug Trafficking Case

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on Friday, November 15, 2024, Lawrence Jackson, (a/k/a "Boo-Bee"), 53, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 190 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Jackson previously was convicted by a jury on April 17, 2024 of seven drug trafficking and firearm offenses after a seven-day trial.

According to court records and evidence admitted at trial, Jackson was the leader and organizer of a drug trafficking operation in the Rutland area that distributed over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine between December 2020 and November 2021. Jackson distributed large quantities of powder cocaine and cocaine base from four Rutland-area hotels and motels, as well as private residences. Jackson personally employed violence and intimidation to further his drug trafficking activities and directed others to do so. This violence included pistol-whippings and assaults as retribution for drug debts and personal affronts. Jackson armed himself and his coconspirators with firearms, including his favorite weapon, a Taurus "The Judge" revolver. Evidence admitted at sentencing established that, in addition to his drug and firearm offenses, Jackson sexually assaulted women and engaged in sex trafficking in and around Rutland.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Rutland City Police Department, and the Vermont Drug Task Force. U.S. Attorney Kerest also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Vermont State Police for their investigative assistance.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Nicole P. Cate. Jackson represented himself at trial and sentencing, and Robert Behrens, Esq. served as standby counsel.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.