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Fatal Arson Sentence Handed Down
A 34-year-old man from Berlin, Vermont, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in a fatal arson that occurred in Northfield, Vermont in December 2015. Howard Hoisington, formerly of Berlin, Vermont, was sentenced on May 31, 2018 for arson with death resulting and conspiracy to commit robbery.
According to court records, Hoisington and his co-defendants committed a series of robberies of drug dealers in the Washington County area of Vermont. The last of these robberies resulted in a fire that destroyed a building in Northfield and killed innocent bystander Brittany Burt.
On December 14, 2015, Hoisington and his co-defendants drove to the Cumberland Farms in Northfield, where they filled two mason jars with gasoline. They then went to the apartment of Efren Serrano, from whom they had arranged to purchase crack cocaine. Hoisington, along with his co-defendants Jonathan Zampieri and Kevin Atwood, kicked in the front door and doused Serrano and his girlfriend, Brittany Burt, with gasoline. When Serrano did not respond, Zampieri pulled out a lighter, igniting the gasoline vapors and causing the room to burst into flames.
Hoisington and his co-defendants fled the building, leaving Serrano and Burt trapped inside. Serrano was able to escape the building on fire, but Burt did not survive. Hoisington was sentenced to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses in the amount of $620,025.92.
Hoisington’s co-defendants, Jonathan Zampieri, Tammy Wilder, Kim Hoisington, and Richard Hoisington, have all pleaded guilty to various charges and await sentencing.
United States Attorney Christina Nolan commended the efforts of Vermont State Police, Vermont Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Northfield Police Department, Barre City Police Department, and Berlin Police Department, for their work in investigating and resolving this case.
The United States Attorney’s Office worked in partnership with the Washington County State’s Attorney Scott William to investigate and resolve this important matter. United States Attorney Nolan added, ‘To describe this crime as senseless and abhorrent would be an understatement. It is a stark example of the horrific violence that too often arises from the trafficking of crack cocaine and other dangerous drugs.’
Key Facts
- State: Vermont
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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