Brooklyn Man Convicted in Rutland Heroin, Crack Conspiracy

Joel Joyce, a 27-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, was convicted by a federal jury in Rutland on December 23, 2016, of running a heroin and crack cocaine trafficking ring that preyed on Vermont’s struggling communities. Known as “Prince,” Joyce was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and heroin, along with possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine—charges that carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 40 years behind bars.

According to trial evidence, Joyce orchestrated a ruthless operation that stretched from Brooklyn streets to the heart of Rutland. He relied on associates from New York to transport bulk quantities of heroin and crack into Vermont, where he exploited local drug users as foot soldiers. These addicts, desperate for their next fix, were paid in drugs to distribute Joyce’s supply and collect cash—turning vulnerable individuals into unwilling accomplices in a violent, profit-driven enterprise.

Federal investigators revealed that Joyce and his New York co-conspirators regularly stayed in homes owned by addicts in Rutland and West Rutland, using the residences as operational hubs. These safe houses became nerve centers for the distribution network, allowing Joyce to maintain control while remaining physically distant. Evidence showed he directed daily operations via cell phone from Brooklyn, micromanaging sales, pickups, and payments with cold precision.

The prosecution presented documentation and testimony proving Joyce raked in tens of thousands of dollars through his drug enterprise. Wiretaps, financial records, and witness accounts painted a picture of a calculated criminal who capitalized on addiction and poverty. His profits were not just measured in cash, but in the wreckage left behind—overdoses, shattered families, and neighborhoods gripped by fear.

Sentencing is expected in spring 2017 before U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Rutland. Joyce will face a mandatory four-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence, assuming he survives incarceration. He is represented by David Williams, Esq. of Burlington. The United States is prosecuting the case through Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Perella and Jon Ophardt.

Vermont’s U.S. Attorney Eric Miller credited the joint effort of the FBI, DEA, Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, and federal prosecutors. “This conviction is the result of state and federal investigators and prosecutors working hand-in-hand to bring a dangerous drug dealer to justice,” Miller said. “Mr. Joyce was a significant source of heroin and crack in the Rutland area, and Vermont’s communities are safer as a result of this successful prosecution.”

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