Shannon T. Hanson Acting United States Attorney for the District of Delaware | U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware
A fourth individual has been sentenced in connection with the 2021 kidnapping and murder of a Wilmington resident by members of the Shotgun Crips gang, according to an announcement from Benjamin L. Wallace, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Rodney Chambers, 34, received a 12-year prison sentence for his role as a lookout during both the abduction in Wilmington and the subsequent killing in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. Chief District Judge Colm F. Connolly issued the sentence.
Court documents and trial evidence show that the victim was targeted following a dispute with gang member Kimon Burton-Roberson. In July 2021, Burton-Roberson, Jamil Salahuddin, and Josiah Rivera entered the victim’s home while Chambers remained outside to watch for police activity. The attackers assaulted the victim with blunt objects, restrained him with zip ties, and forced him into a vehicle driven by Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez. The group transported him to Philadelphia where they picked up Dwayne Alexander before moving on to an industrial park in Yeadon. There, Burton-Roberson shot and killed the bound victim using an assault rifle while Chambers continued to act as lookout.
Afterward, members of the gang attempted to destroy evidence by cleaning their vehicle and discontinuing use of certain cell phone numbers from that night.
Earlier this month, three other defendants were sentenced: Kimon Burton-Roberson received life imprisonment; Jamil Salahuddin was sentenced to 17.5 years; Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez received a 10-year term. Dwayne Alexander is awaiting sentencing in federal court while Josiah Rivera awaits sentencing in Delaware state court; Rivera was not charged federally due to being a minor at the time.
“Rodney Chambers had a hand in an atrocious crime that took a beloved son, brother, and uncle from his family,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “We thank our law enforcement partners for the tireless work that resulted in a fourth just sentence of at least a decade in this case. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to stamp out gang violence here in Delaware.”
“His sentencing is the final step towards holding Rodney Chambers accountable for the life he took,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who use violence to harm and intimidate our community.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including: Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force; Wilmington Police Department; Yeadon Borough Police Department; Pennsylvania State Police; and Delaware Probation and Parole.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace led prosecution efforts along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Morgan (now Eastern District of Pennsylvania) throughout indictments, trial proceedings, and sentencings for all defendants involved.
Additional information about this case can be found on official resources such as the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware or through PACER by searching Case No. 22-CR-17-CFC.
