Colchester Man Charged in Connection with Swanton Drug-Related Homicide

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office stated Dominique Troupe, 36, of Colchester, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in connection with a Second Superseding Indictment in which Troupe and others are charged with gun and drug crimes. Troupe is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, one count of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to the drug conspiracy, one count of conspiring to commit a robbery of drugs and money by threat of force, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.

According to court documents, the first three counts against Troupe relate to the February 2, 2022 shooting death of Elijah Oliver in Swanton, Vermont. In its motion seeking Troupe's detention, the United States asserts that Troupe was a primary source of supply for crack cocaine being sold out of a residence on River Street in Swanton, and that Oliver was a rival Swanton drug dealer. According to the detention motion, to protect their crack cocaine distribution operation, Troupe and others implemented a plan to carry out an armed robbery of Oliver, seeking to steal drugs and money, and during the attempted robbery Oliver was shot and killed.

Troupe has been in federal custody since his September 7, 2022 arrest for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base. In today's hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Troupe to remain detained during the pendency of the prosecution. Troupe and his co-defendants will have until March 20 to file pre-trial motions.

If Troupe is convicted of all charges, he will face a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life; any sentence would be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the indictment is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case has been investigated by the Vermont State Police, in coordination with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Franklin County Sheriff Department, and the Swanton Police Department.

The Assistant United States Attorney handling the prosecution is Michael Drescher. Troupe is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. of Burlington.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn