RUTLAND, VT – Dominique Troupe, 37, of Colchester, Vermont, is facing a potential life sentence after a jury found him guilty yesterday of drug, gun, and robbery offenses stemming from a deadly home invasion in Swanton. The six-day trial in United States District Court revealed Troupe’s calculated involvement in a crack cocaine distribution network and the escalating violence that followed a turf war.
According to court records, Troupe had been supplying crack cocaine to residents of Swanton as early as July 2021, building a consistent operation. But when a rival dealer set up shop at 45 First Street in January 2022, Troupe’s profits began to dry up. Instead of accepting the loss, Troupe allegedly greenlit a robbery of his competitor. His Swanton-based distributors concocted the plan, and Troupe, according to prosecutors, not only approved it but provided the weapon.
The robbery turned fatal in the early morning hours of February 2, 2022. During the attempted armed robbery, Elijah Oliver, 22, of Massachusetts, was shot twice and killed. Troupe wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, but the prosecution successfully argued he was the mastermind, responsible for arming the robbers and setting the deadly chain of events in motion. The evidence presented painted a picture of a ruthless drug dealer willing to use violence to protect his territory.
“This case is another tragic example of the intersection of guns and drug distribution in Vermont,” stated United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. “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.” Troupe remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Vermont State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau echoed Kerest’s sentiments, saying, “The Vermont State Police thanks our federal partners for their pursuit of justice in this troubling, tragic case…Our agencies will continue working together to fight the scourge of drug-related violence in Vermont.” The FBI and ATF also assisted in the investigation, highlighting the multi-agency effort to bring Troupe to justice.
Troupe now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with a potential maximum sentence of life. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Turner and Michael Drescher secured the conviction. Chandler Matson, Esq. represented Troupe at trial. The sentencing date has not yet been announced, but the outcome sends a clear message: those who profit from drugs and resort to gun violence will face the full weight of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Dominique Troupe, Gun and Drug Trafficking, Vermont 2024 · Vermont
- Dominique Troupe, Crack Cocaine Distribution, Vermont 2021 · California
- Michael Burton, Drug Trafficking, Vermont 2024 · Vermont
- Purvis, Gun and Drug Trafficking, Connecticut 2023 · Connecticut
- Stephen Loewe, Bank Robbery and Gun Smuggling, Vermont 2025 · Vermont
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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