Three Individuals Indicted for Role in Violent Bennington Drug Conspiracy

Burlington, Vermont - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that on August 8, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging William McLaughlin, 45, from Bennington, VT, Samantha Danforth, 35, from Bennington, VT, and Keahnard Rowell, also known as "Stacks", 34, from New York, NY, with conspiring to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl in 2022. The indictment also charges McLaughlin with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Rowell was arraigned on the charges on September 9, 2024, and entered a plea of not guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Rowell continue to be detained during the pendency of this matter.

McLaughlin's and Danforth's arraignment dates are yet to be set.

According to court records, Rowell was a top lieutenant in a violent drug organization run by McLaughlin in Bennington from approximately February to July 2022. Danforth managed much of the day-to-day operations alongside McLaughlin. The broader organization included Bennington residents who would allow their homes to be used for drug storage and/or distribution, and others who executed drug sales on behalf of McLaughlin. Rowell was also present for multiple violent events perpetrated by McLaughlin, including a severe beating of a woman McLaughlin believed had drawn attention to a drug-storage location, and a stabbing of a man McLaughlin believed owed him drug money.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Rowell, McLaughlin, and Danforth are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rowell, McLaughlin, and Danforth all face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on these charges. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bennington Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Corinne Smith and Paul Van de Graaf. Rowell is represented by Jason Sawyer, Esq. Counsel for McLaughlin and Danforth have not been identified yet.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.