Vermont Coke Conspirator Busted for Halfway House Escape

CONCORD, N.H. – Robert Rosploch, 34, formerly of Leicester, Vermont, is facing more time behind bars after pleading guilty today to escaping from federal custody. The failed bid for freedom adds another layer to a rap sheet already stained by drug trafficking.

According to court documents unsealed today, Rosploch made a clumsy getaway on November 16, 2016, scaling out of a first-floor window at a halfway house in Manchester, New Hampshire. The escape was short-lived. Deputy U.S. Marshals, clearly not impressed with the effort, tracked down Rosploch within hours, finding him wandering the streets of downtown Manchester.

He was taken into custody without incident, ending the brief but costly detour. Rosploch wasn’t just running from the halfway house, he was running from a sentence. At the time of his escape, he was already serving time for a previous federal conviction in Vermont court – a conviction stemming from a conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

This wasn’t a spontaneous decision. It was a calculated risk by a man desperate to avoid finishing his original sentence. Now, that desperation will likely earn him additional time. The U.S. Marshals Service moved quickly and efficiently, preventing Rosploch from becoming a prolonged fugitive.

Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley didn’t mince words, signaling a zero-tolerance policy for those attempting to evade justice. The investigation was handled by the U.S. Marshals Service, and the prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley, who clearly intends to see Rosploch held accountable for his actions.

Rosploch is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24, 2017. Expect an additional, and likely substantial, sentence to be tacked onto his existing term. This case serves as a stark reminder: running doesn’t pay, and the Marshals will always be hunting.