Christopher Van Johnson, a 36-year-old member of the Baltimore Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang, was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms for his role in the brutal 2016 murders of three individuals in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, follows a seven-year investigation into the triple homicide.
The victims, Wendy Ann Chaney, Brandon Cole, and Phillip Matthew Jackson, were found shot and set on fire in a barn on Jackson’s property. Chaney, who had been cooperating with federal drug investigators, was the primary target. Cole and Jackson were killed to eliminate potential witnesses.
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Johnson and other BGF members were recruited to carry out the murders in exchange for money, drugs, and firearms they believed were on the property. Although they didn’t find the anticipated payment, they stole drugs and firearms from the scene.
The case involved a complex web of drug trafficking and conspiracy, leading to charges against numerous individuals.
Many have already pleaded guilty or been convicted, receiving sentences ranging from time served to life imprisonment.
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United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam highlighted the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that resulted in Johnson’s conviction and sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys William A. Behe and Michael Consiglio prosecuted the case, with expert assistance from Judy Fernandez of LexisNexis Special Services, Inc.
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