New York and South Carolina Men Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine Base in Rutland

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 17, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging  James Brown, 43, of Troy, New York, and Lionell Thompson, 40, of Manning, South Carolina, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, as well as multiple counts of distributing cocaine and cocaine base.

Brown and Thompson are scheduled to be arraigned today before Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Burlington at 3pm.

According to court records, Brown, Thompson, and others conspired to distribute cocaine and cocaine base between July 2024 and September 2025. Brown and Thompson’s conduct in that conspiracy, including the reasonably foreseeable conduct of other members of the conspiracy, involved more than 280 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base. Brown’s conduct in that conspiracy, also involved more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. The indictment also alleges that Brown distributed cocaine base on January 30, January 31, February 20, March 27, and April 2, 2025, and distributed cocaine on March 13, 2025. The indictment alleges that Thompson distributed cocaine base on October 8, 2024, as well as February 26 and April 2, 2025. The indictment also alleges that Thompson distributed cocaine on July 16 and October 16, 2024, and March 13, 2025. According to court documents, law enforcement has conducted over 35 controlled purchases into Brown and Thompson’s drug organization and the distribution charges are the result of controlled purchases conducted by a law enforcement confidential informant and an undercover detective.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Brown and Thompson are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Both Brown and Thompson face up to a life sentence of incarceration, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police’s Vermont Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rutland City Police Department, Vermont National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Brandon Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, the Rutland Town Police Department, New England State Police Information Network, and Capital Region Crime Analysis Center.

The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jason Turner. James Brown is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon. Lionell Thompson is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq.