Colchester Man Found Guilty by Jury of Drug, Gun, and Robbery Offenses

Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that yesterday, Dominique Troupe, 37, of Colchester, Vermont, was convicted following a six-day jury trial in United States District Court in Rutland of drug, gun, and robbery offenses. Troupe, who was arrested in September 2022, remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending post-trial proceedings.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, by at least July of 2021 Troupe was a source of cocaine base (also known as "crack cocaine") to residents of Swanton, Vermont, with whom he conspired to distribute the drug. During the second half of 2021, Troupe maintained a consistent crack cocaine distribution operation in the Swanton area. In January 2022, however, a rival distributor of crack cocaine moved into the residence at 45 First Street in Swanton, resulting in a significant diminution in Troupe's sales. To address this problem, two of Troupe's Swanton-based re-distributors came up with the idea to rob the rival drug dealer of his drugs and money. When Troupe learned of this idea, he turned it into reality. Trial evidence showed that during the early morning of February 2, 2022, Troupe employed one of his Swanton-based distributors, as well as another of Troupe's associates, to attempt the armed robbery at 45 First Street. Troupe supplied a firearm to one of the robbers to use during the crime. Tragically, during the attempted armed robbery, Elijah Oliver, 22, of Massachusetts was shot twice, and killed.

Based on the jury's verdict, Troupe faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years' imprisonment and a potential maximum sentence of life. The ultimate sentence will be determined by reference to the Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigative efforts of the Major Crime Unit, the Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Crime Scene Search Team, and the Technology Investigation Unit of the Vermont State Police. He stated: "This case is another tragic example of the intersection of guns and drug distribution in Vermont. We are grateful to the men and women of the Vermont State Police for their response to and investigation of the tragic events in Swanton in February 2022. The jury's verdict will hold Dominique Troupe responsible for the role he played in those events." U.S. Attorney Kerest also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the assistance they provided.

"The Vermont State Police thanks our federal partners for their pursuit of justice in this troubling, tragic case," said Maj. Dan Trudeau, commander of the Vermont State Police Criminal Division. "As we have in the past, our agencies will continue working together to fight the scourge of drug-related violence in Vermont, to keep our communities safe, and to ensure accountability when offenders shatter the peace that everyone in Vermont expects and deserves."

Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Turner and Michael Drescher prosecuted the case. Troupe was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.