Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy Charge

Posted: Monday, February 11, 2013 3:09 pm | Updated: 8:23 am, Tue Feb 19, 2013.

A Washington man pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the death of a Texas man lured to St. Louis.

Scott Alan Compton, 54, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine.

Authorities allege that Compton and Michael Jackson, 23, Houston, Texas, for their actions in connection with the death of Jamie Benson, 28, also of Houston.

Jackson pleaded guilty Feb. 8 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a third count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in which death resulted

According to court documents, in early April 2011, Compton and Jackson — along with others — joined in a conspiracy that included robbing and murdering Benson in St. Louis after luring him from Houston to St. Louis.

Compton and Jackson were actively involved in luring Benson to St. Louis and setting the stage for Benson's murder by Jackson, authorities said.

April 22, 2011, Jackson shot and murdered Benson inside a vehicle parked in a St. Louis alley, authorities said.

Jackson and others abandoned Benson's body in the alley where it was later discovered by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

See the Wednesday Missourian for the complete story.