By Tiffany Williams –
Following a seven-day trial, on Thursday, a jury at the United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont convicted Lawrence Jackson, also known as “Boo-Bee”, 53, of Rutland, Vermont for drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm.
“As a direct result of the collaborative effort between local, state, and our federal law enforcement partners, Mr. Jackson has been held accountable for the harm he inflicted upon many individuals and the entire Rutland community. We give thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont for its dedication to the prosecution of this matter,” said Rutland City Police Chief Brian Kilcullen.
Jackson was arrested in Rutland City on November 23, 2021 and on December 29, 2021 was indicted by a federal grand jury.
At the time Jackson was arrested the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont says he was in possession of over 400 grams of powder cocaine and cocaine base.
the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont also says, “A Taurus Judge .410/45 caliber revolver was seized during a law enforcement search of Jackson’s Rutland residence.” That revolver the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont says, “Was located in a bedroom identified as belonging to Jackson.”
A desk in that same bedroom, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont says, “Contained numerous items used for cooking, weighing, and packaging cocaine and cocaine base.”
“Elsewhere in the residence, law enforcement located two more firearms. At the time The Judge was seized, the revolver was loaded with both .45-Long Colt bullets and .410 shotshells,” said the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. “Jackson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his extensive criminal history.”
“Our investigation into Jackson painted a picture of a violent and cruel individual who used his reputation to perpetrate a string of crimes in Rutland. Yesterday, a jury found him guilty on seven counts related to drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm and now he’s facing a serious federal sentence. HSI is proud to work alongside our partners here in Vermont to make our communities safer,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
The jury also convicted Jackson of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and over 500 grams of cocaine from approximately January 2021 until he was arrested on November 23, 2021.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, “Jackson sold cocaine in August 2020 and cocaine base in September 2020 to a confidential informant working at the direction of law enforcement.”
“Jackson used firearms, including the Judge revolver, to further his drug trafficking conspiracy,” said the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. “For example, Jackson used a firearm to strike a man who owed him a drug debt.”
Jackson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life.
U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss ordered that Jackson remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Jackson has been held without bail since his arrest in November 2021
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