Zaquikon T. Roy, a 35-year-old previously residing in Brooklyn, New York, has been charged with multiple offenses by a grand jury in Rutland, Vermont. The charges stem from a Second Superseding Indictment filed on April 1, 2025, which alleges fifteen counts against him. These include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances such as cocaine base, fentanyl, and significant quantities of cocaine, as well as conspiracy to use firearms in connection with drug trafficking activities.
Additional charges comprise three instances of cocaine base distribution, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, and three counts of possessing a firearm in support of a drug trafficking crime. Roy also faces four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he is accused of discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking incident in Leicester, Vermont, on June 4, 2023. He has not been arraigned, and a date for arraignment has not been scheduled.
Speaking on the case, the United States Attorney stressed that the charges are accusations and that Roy is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, Roy could face up to life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 35 years, or an $8 million fine. Sentencing would be influenced by the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Vermont State Police. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Van de Graaf and Wendy L. Fuller, while Chandler Matson, Esq. is representing Roy.
This legal action is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at tackling illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime. The operation involves measures from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which emphasizes collaboration between law enforcement and communities to decrease crime and gun violence. Launched on May 26, 2021, the initiative underpins efforts to enhance trust, support community organizations, strategize enforcement, and evaluate outcomes.