HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Maryland man has been sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences for his role in the June 25, 2016 murder of three people in Franklin County.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Van Johnson, 36, from Baltimore, Maryland was sentenced on July 17. His sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, who also sentenced Johnson to concurrent 10, 20 and 30-year prison terms on companion robbery, firearms and conspiracy charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Johnson's conviction was the result of a seven-year investigation into three murders on June 25, 2016, on a property along Welsh Run Road in Mercersburg, Franklin County.
At the scene, Pennsylvania State Police found the bodies of Wendy Ann Chaney, 39, from Hagerstown, Md., Brandon Cole, 47, from Fayetteville, Pa. and Phillip Matthew Jackson, 36, from Mercersburg, Pa. The bodies were found in a barn on Jackson's property.
All three victims were shot, had their hands zipped-tied behind their backs and had been set on fire. Jackson and Cole were shot once in the head. Chaney was shot twice, once in the back and once in the back of her neck.
Chaney and Cole were found dead at the scene. Jackson was transported to York Hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
The evidence presented at trial established that Chaney was in a relationship with Torey White and co-conspirator Kevin Coles, and had been previously assisting both with their drug distribution operations.
White, Coles and co-defendant Devin Dickerson learned that Chaney was cooperating with federal authorities and contracted for her to be murdered, according to Karam.
Co-defendants Kenyatta Corbett and Jerell Adgebesan recruited Johnson, who was a member of a Baltimore-based gang known as the Black Guerilla Family, and others from Baltimore to travel to the Jackson property to kill Chaney.
The killers were promised that they could take as payment $20,000 that was to be in a safe in the barn and any drugs and firearms that they could locate on the Jackson property, Karam said.
Once there, the killers encountered not only Chaney, but also Cole and Jackson.
Chaney and Cole were shot execution-style and their bodies were set on fire. Jackson was shot when he charged Johnson and was likewise set on fire although he was still alive.
Chaney was killed to protect the drug trafficking activities of White, Coles, and their co-conspirators.
Jackson and Cole were murdered to prevent them from being witnesses to the crimes of violence that were committed at the Jackson property.
The killers never found any money on the property, but stole some drugs and firearms, Karam said.
The following individuals were charged along with Johnson as a result of the investigation:
Kevin Coles, age 36, of New York and Hagerstown, Maryland: was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment for multiple crimes, including murder for hire, robbery, and drug trafficking.
Jerell Adgebesan, age 35, of Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland: pled guilty in June 2022 to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery. Judge Conner sentenced Adgebesan in February 2023 to life imprisonment and a consecutive 10-year term of imprisonment.
Mark Johnson, 35, Baltimore, Maryland: pled guilty to obstructing the grand jury’s investigation and was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment.
Terrance Lawson, age 31, Baltimore: sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness.
Tyrone Armstrong, age 30, Baltimore: sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness.
Devin Dickerson, age 31, Hagerstown: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Kenyatta Corbett, age 38, Hagerstown: pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to life in prison.
Michael Buck, age 30, Hagerstown: pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing.
Nicholas Preddy, age 29, Baltimore: pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a witness and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Johnnie Jenkins-Armstrong, age 22, Baltimore: pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to life in prison.
Llesenia Woodard, 46, Hagerstown, Maryland: pled guilty to providing false testimony to the grand jury investigating the murders and is awaiting sentencing
Yolanda Diaz, 31, Hagerstown: was indicted on multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice based upon her testimony at the Coles trial. She recently pled guilty before Judge Conner and is awaiting sentencing.
Joshua Davis, age 30, previously pled guilty to participating in the conspiracy to locate and kill an individual believed to be cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation of the triple murders. Davis was sentenced to serve 100 months’ imprisonment.
