Scranton Reporter

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Christopher Van Johnson, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced on July 17, 2024, to seven consecutive life sentences for his role in the June 25, 2016 murders of three individuals in Mercersburg, Franklin County. One of the victims was cooperating with state and federal drug investigators. The sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, who also sentenced Johnson to concurrent 10, 20, and 30-year terms of imprisonment on companion robbery, firearms, and conspiracy charges.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Johnson’s conviction resulted from a seven-year investigation into the murders that occurred on a property along Welsh Run Road in Mercersburg. Pennsylvania State Police officers found the bodies of Wendy Ann Chaney (39), Brandon Cole (47), and Phillip Matthew Jackson (36) in a barn on Jackson’s property. All were shot and had their hands zip-tied behind their backs before being set on fire. Jackson and Cole were shot once in the head while Chaney was shot twice. Chaney and Cole were dead when police arrived; Jackson died shortly after being transported to York Hospital.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea proceeding on November 21, 2019 established that Wendy Chaney was involved with co-defendants Kevin Coles and Torey White in drug distribution operations. Co-defendant Kenyatta Corbett was also a heroin trafficker in Hagerstown and areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Upon learning that Chaney was cooperating with federal authorities, Corbett, Coles, White, and co-defendant Devin Dickerson contracted for her murder. Corbett and co-defendant Jerell Adgebesan recruited Johnson and other members of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang from Baltimore to kill Chaney.

Johnson and his accomplices encountered not only Wendy Chaney but also Brandon Cole and Phillip Jackson at the scene. After binding their hands with zip-ties, they executed Chaney and Cole before setting their bodies on fire. Jackson was shot during an altercation with Johnson before being set on fire while still alive.

The following individuals were charged along with Corbett as a result of the investigation:

- Devin Dickerson: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine; sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.

- Torey White: Convicted by a federal jury in May 2023 of three counts of first-degree murder; case is on appeal.

- Michael Buck: Pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery; awaiting sentencing.

- Nicholas Preddy: Pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a witness; sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.

- Johnnie Jenkins-Armstrong: Pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery; sentenced to life imprisonment.

- Terrance Lawson: Sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness.

- Tyrone Armstrong: Sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness.

- Kenyatta Corbett: Pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery; sentenced to life imprisonment.

- Mark Johnson: Pled guilty to obstructing the grand jury’s investigation; sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment.

- Llesenia Woodard: Pled guilty to providing false testimony; awaiting sentencing.

- Kevin Coles: Found guilty in April 2022 of multiple crimes including murder for hire; sentenced to multiple consecutive life sentences.

- Yolanda Diaz: Indicted on multiple counts of perjury; recently pled guilty; awaiting sentencing.

- Joshua Davis: Pled guilty; sentenced to serve 100 months’ imprisonment.

Various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies participated in this investigation including:

Drug Enforcement Administration Harrisburg Resident Office

Pennsylvania State Police

Franklin County Drug Task Force

Hagerstown Police Department

Washington County Narcotics Task Force

Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Management Unit

US Marshal’s Service

Judy Fernandez from LexisNexis Special Services provided expert assistance during the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Consiglio prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) aimed at reducing violent crime through community-based initiatives.

This prosecution is also part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) identified as “Retribution for Welsh Run,” targeting major drug trafficking organizations.