DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Missouri

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Richard Callahan
, United States Attorney
Contact: Jan Diltz

Leader Of Drug Conspiracy That Resulted In Death Sentenced To 27 Years In Prison

St. Louis, MO - Andreus O’Bryant, 26, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 330 months imprisonment for his organization and leadership in a drug conspiracy that required the murder of Jamie Benson, 28, of Houston, TX, on April 22, 2011.  In August 2013, O’Bryant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine.  O’Bryant was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig after a two-day sentencing hearing.

 According to court documents and testimony provided during the sentencing hearing, in early April 2011, O’Bryant recruited multiple individuals, including his co-defendants Scott Compton and Lodgy Jackson, to participate in a conspiracy that included robbing and murdering victim Benson within the City of St. Louis, after luring Benson from Houston to St. Louis.  Compton was recruited by O’Bryant to act as an individual interested in purchasing over 500 grams of cocaine from Benson for an inflated price.  Compton played that role.  In doing so, Compton, along O’Bryant and Jackson, convinced Mr. Benson that a drug transaction was going to occur when, in reality, O’Bryant, Jackson, and others intended to rob Benson of the cocaine and murder him.

 Jackson was brought to St. Louis by O’Bryant for purposes of carrying out the murder in exchange for compensation from O’Bryant.  In the early morning hours of April 22, 2011, O’Bryant drove himself, Benson, Jackson, and another individual to a St. Louis alley.  O’Bryant exited the vehicle.  Jackson and Benson sat inside O’Bryant’s vehicle.  Benson was the front seat passenger.  Jackson sat directly behind him.  To facilitate Benson’s murder, Jackson initiated a heated argument with Benson.  As the argument began, Jackson sent a text to O’Bryant notifying O’Bryant that the murder was imminent.  As the argument continued, Jackson mouthed the words “watch this” to another passenger inside O’Bryant’s vehicle.  Jackson then fired one shot into the back of Benson’s head from a firearm Jackson possessed.  That firearm was given to Jackson by O’Bryant prior to the murder.  Jackson, O’Bryant and another abandoned Benson's body in the alley where it was later discovered by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.  Jackson, O’Bryant and others undertook significant efforts to cover‑up the conspiracy and destroy evidence of the crime.

 Upon learning of the indictment against him, O’Bryant fled the State of Missouri.  He eluded authorities for almost a year.  A joint task force of officers from Saint Louis, Missouri and Houston, Texas with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service apprehended O’Bryant in Houston, Texas and returned him to the Eastern District of Missouri to face the indictment.  O’Bryant is the third of three defendants to be sentenced in this matter.  Compton pleaded guilty for his involvement and has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.  Jackson also pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to 33 years imprisonment.

 This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Franklin County Sheriff's Department; the St. Charles County Police Department; and the O’Fallon Police Department.

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Kansas City Field Division