Vermont woman arrested for providing base of operations

By Michael Donoghue
Vermont News First

BURLINGTON –Two out of state men, who police say operated a Rutland-based drug conspiracy that involved at least three dozen crack cocaine and powder cocaine sales since 2023, were ordered jailed by a federal judge on Thursday pending their trials.

James E. Brown, 43, of Troy, New York, and Lionell Thompson, 40, of Manning, S.C. both have long criminal histories, including three felony drug convictions each, court records show.

During a brief federal court hearing they both pleaded not guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as multiple counts of distributing crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

If convicted, Brown and Thompson both face up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

By late Thursday afternoon, a third defendant, Amy Manning, 49, of Rutland was lodged at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington on federal drug charges.  She will be arraigned in U.S. District Court on Friday.

The indictment maintains Manning and at least one other unidentified defendant unlawfully and knowingly used a place for the purpose of distributing crack cocaine between Feb. 18 and Aug. 12, records show. The location of the crack house was blacked out pending the arrest of at least one other co-defendant for that felony charge.

Manning also is charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing crack cocaine on May 20, records show.

A federal grand jury in Rutland returned a 16-count indictment on Wednesday naming the two men, Manning and it appears at least two others whose identities were blacked out until they are arrested.

The Vermont Drug Task Force and Rutland City Police led simultaneous court-ordered searches with state, federal and local officers at homes on Grove Street and Allen Street about 6 a.m. Thursday.  Besides the arrests, officers seized evidence and phones, a prosecutor said.

Brown, who is known as “Breezy” was caught at Allen Street and Thompson, who is known as “Mike” was found at Grove Street, officials said.

Defense lawyer John-Claude Charbonneau of Rutland, representing Brown, asked for 120 days to review the government evidence and file possible pre-trial motions.

Defense lawyer Jordana M. Levine of Hartford, on behalf of Thompson, also asked for four months to review the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner filed motions seeking their detention pending trial on the grounds both were dangers to the community.

Turner said investigators have audio and video recordings of at least 36 drug sales, along with corresponding law enforcement reports.  He said besides the two search warrants, police seized electronic devices, including phones that will require extractions.      

Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Burlington advised both men about the charges they face and agreed to jail them when their lawyers said they would not contest the detention motions.   He set Jan. 16 as the deadline for motions.

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 and the reasonably foreseeable conduct of other members of the conspiracy, involved 280 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing crack cocaine, the indictment said.

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 said.

The indictment charges Brown with distribution of crack cocaine on Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 20, March 27, and April 2, 2025, and sale of powder cocaine on March 13.

Thompson is named in the indictment for distributing crack cocaine on Oct. 8, 2024, Feb. 26 and April 2, 2025. It also charges him for selling powder cocaine on July 16 and Oct. 16, 2024, and March 13, 2025.

According to court documents, law enforcement 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.

Acting U. S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the investigative work the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rutland City, Rutland Town and Brandon Police, Vermont National Guard Counterdrug Program, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, New England State Police Information Network, and Capital Region (N.Y.) Crime Analysis Center.

Turner, in his detention motion, noted the weight of the evidence is strong with Brown being recorded conducting multiple controlled purchases to an undercover detective and a confidential informant.

Brown was arrested by New York State Police (NYSP) on May 1, during the course of the charged Vermont conspiracy, in a 2022 BMW with one of his indicted co-conspirators, Turner said.  NYSP located and seized over 41½ ounces of cocaine from the BMW driven by Brown, records show.

New York State Police said Brown and his passenger, Jyquez Grant, 23, of Voorheesville, N.Y. were charged with felony criminal possession of controlled substances during a traffic stop in the town of Clinton in Duchess County on the Taconic State Parkway in Clinton, records show.  Troopers reported seeing multiple vehicle and traffic law violations, police said.

Messaging recovered from Brown’s cellular telephone included messages to his co-conspirator instructing the co-conspirator to get back in the vehicle and flee law enforcement and take responsibility for the cocaine if he was apprehended, Turner wrote.

Brown has five previous felony convictions and four previous misdemeanor convictions. The convictions include three felony drug convictions from New York state in 2012 and 2020. His 2020 case also included a conviction for tampering with evidence, he said.

Brown also was convicted in Vermont state court in 2016 for felony eluding a law enforcement officer with negligent operation. That conviction followed a plea agreement where charges for obstruction of justice and “incite, procure, or hire another to commit a felony” were dismissed for Brown’s plea to the eluding charge, Turner said.

Brown additionally was reincarcerated multiple times following his 2012 conviction for parole and probation violations, Turner said in his detention motion.  He added Brown’s criminal history also contains a notation that he has failed to appear for court hearings previously.

He said Brown’s history and characteristics demonstrate that if he were released to the community, he would unlikely comply with conditions and poses an unreasonable risk that he will attempt to interfere with witnesses, destroy evidence of his crimes or flee from prosecution. 

Thompson poses an equal risk to flee  and the weight of the evidence is strong, Turner said.

The Vermont Drug Task Force conducted 11 controlled purchases with Thompson, including eight with a law enforcement confidential informant and three with an undercover detective, Turner said.

Additionally, Thompson was recorded on telephone calls with the confidential informant and undercover detective arranging the details of three further controlled purchases that were completed by other members of the conspiracy.

Thompson’s criminal history has six felony convictions and six misdemeanor convictions. These convictions include three previous felony drug convictions from South Carolina in 2014 and a misdemeanor drug conviction in South Carolina in 2012.

Thompson also has three felony convictions involving firearms: armed robbery (2007), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (2009), and pointing and presenting a firearm at a person (2012).  He also has two misdemeanor convictions for unlawful carrying of a pistol from 2005 and 2009, Turner wrote.