Lawrence Jackson, Firearm and Drug Trafficking, Vermont 2022

A Rutland man has been indicted for firearm and drug trafficking charges. Lawrence Jackson, 50, of Rutland, Vermont was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 29, 2021.

The indictment alleges that Jackson engaged in drug trafficking and unlawfully possessed a Taurus The Judge .410/.45 caliber revolver. Jackson is currently detained on related state charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on January 25, 2022. The government has moved for Jackson’s continued detention pending trial.

According to court records, Jackson was arrested on November 23, 2021 while in possession of approximately 430 grams of powder cocaine and 33 grams of cocaine base. A Taurus The Judge .410/45 caliber revolver was seized during a law enforcement search of Jackson’s Rutland residence. The Judge revolver was located in a bedroom identified by witnesses as belonging to Jackson. At the time it was seized, the revolver was loaded with both .45-Long Colt bullets and .410 shotshells. Jackson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his extensive criminal history.

In its detention motion, the government asserted that Jackson has recently been the perpetrator of significant violence in the Rutland community. Witnesses have reported that Jackson has “pistol-whipped” multiple people with The Judge revolver and held a woman at gunpoint. Witnesses have reported that Jackson has raped and sexually assaulted multiple women in the Rutland area. In addition, Jackson is being investigated for using drugs to coerce women to perform commercial sex acts and for his involvement in the facilitation of prostitution.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Jackson remains presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Due to his criminal history, Jackson faces a mandatory 15 years of imprisonment if convicted on the firearm violation. Jackson faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment if convicted on the drug trafficking allegations.

The United States Attorney, Nikolas P. Kerest, commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Rutland City Police Department, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/rutland-man-indicted-firearm-and-drug-trafficking-charges