Seven people were sentenced in U.S. District Court on drug and gun charges in relation to the April 2019 shooting death of Benzel Hampton in Burlington’s Old North End, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced in a press release on Tuesday.
According to the release, the defendants each pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to distribution of guns and drugs. Judge Christina Reiss imposed a range of sentences, with the final defendant sentenced on Tuesday.
Prosecutors believe Johnny Ford and James Felix shot Hampton, according to the release, though none of the defendants were convicted of murder. The two men were sentenced to 15 and 11 years in jail, respectively.
Lesine Woodson and Brandon Sanders were also at the scene of the murder, authorities said. Woodson received seven years in jail and Sanders received four years.
Three others connected to the group, Angelina Pearson, Jennifer MacDonald and Devlin Koski, were all sentenced to time served.
Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a feud over drug profits and competing claims to drug-selling territory. According to the release, Hampton sent text messages to Ford in February 2019 saying “this is my city.” Two months later, Woodson, Ford, Felix and Sanders drove to North Willard Street to a drug customer’s apartment that Hampton exited.
A shootout ensued during the middle of the day, with bullets striking both Felix and Hampton. Hampton died of his wounds as others fled the scene.
Nikolas Kerest, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, said the case was complex, involving multiple state, federal and local agencies.
“This violent, drug-involved crime occurred in the middle of the day in Burlington as children and their parents walked home from school,” Kerest was quoted as saying in the press release. “It is exactly the kind of horrific and disruptive crime that we work every day to eradicate.”
