United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

BURDEN ORGANIZATION ENFORCER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JERMAINE BUCHANAN, age 25, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a member of the BURDEN ORGANIZATION, a violent Norwalk-based drug trafficking gang, was sentenced today in Bridgeport to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after his conviction at trial of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder. United States District Judge Janet C. Hall sentenced BUCHANAN to concurrent life sentences on the racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and drug conspiracy counts, and concurrent ten year sentences on the conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder counts.

In February 2003, a trial jury convicted BUCHANAN and Kelvin Burden, David "DMX" Burden, David "QB" Burden and Cedric Burden of numerous racketeering related charges. The indictment charged these defendants with operating a racketeering enterprise in South Norwalk, Connecticut from 1997 to June 2001, which enterprise was responsible for numerous shootings and other acts of violence in South Norwalk and Bridgeport. Evidence at trial proved that BUCHANAN served as an enforcer for the Burden Organization and that he assisted in the packaging and distribution of more than 1.5 kilograms of crack cocaine.

In June 1999, BUCHANAN attempted to kill Rodrick Richardson, a member of the Hill Crew and a long time rival. BUCHANAN, acting at Kelvin Burden's direction, opened fire from point blank range on Richardson outside of Les New Moon Café on Bouton Street in Norwalk. Richardson was struck in the arm by one of the bullets.

Evidence at trial also proved that BUCHANAN murdered Derek Owens and shot Marquis Young, an individual who had a long-standing feud with the Burden Organization. Kelvin Burden held Young responsible for the shooting death of Burden's brother Sean Burden, who was shot to death on May 13, 1998 in Norwalk. Young was a passenger in the car at the time, but was not involved in the shooting. On July 1, 1999, BUCHANAN participated in a drive-by shooting on Lenox Avenue in Bridgeport and fired more than 25 nine millimeter rounds into a car occupied by Owens and Young. Owens, who was not involved in the dispute between Burden and Young, was seated in the driver's side of the car and was killed by the gunfire. Young sustained five bullet wounds and survived, but was rendered a paraplegic. Young testified at trial, and the jurors also saw a videotape of Young's identification of Buchanan as one of the shooters, taken at the hospital the night of the shooting.

A wealth of other evidence was offered at the trial that detailed the magnitude of the Burden Organization. According to prosecutors, the organization, led by Kelvin Burden, was responsible for distributing more than one kilogram of crack cocaine a week during the relevant time period.

"The sentence imposed today again proves the federal government's commitment to investigate and prosecute violent organizations," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Another violent individual will spend the rest of his life in prison and the streets of Norwalk are safer as a result."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor thanked the Norwalk Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their substantial efforts in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert M. Appleton and Brian E. Spears prosecuted this case, which has included the conviction of 35 individuals associated with the Burden drug trafficking organization.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov