Accused Hartford Drug Dealer Paid To Have Man Killed: Feds

BURLINGTON, VT/HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man has been indicted in Vermont and accused of trying to pay to have a man killed and also accused of dealing narcotics.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont said Monday that on Thursday, May 27, a federal grand jury indicted Tremaine Knight, also known as “Brody,” 43, of Hartford, and charged him with murder-for-hire and distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base.

Knight’s arraignment is slated for Thursday, April 3, in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vt.

Knight was ordered detained pending further proceedings on March 25, following issuance of a complaint charging him with drug distribution on March 20.

According to court records, law enforcement, working with a confidential informant, conducted five controlled purchases of drugs from Knight between February and March 2025.

The first three buys occurred in Massachusetts, and the last two buys occurred in Brattleboro, Vt., with Knight traveling from Hartford to meet the informant, federal officials said.

During the first Vermont buy, Knight sold the informant approximately 140 grams of powder cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl, officials said.

During the second buy, Knight sold the informant about 150 grams of powder cocaine, 30 grams of cocaine base, and 85 grams of fentanyl, according to authorities.

During one of the Massachusetts buys, Knight also asked the informant if they would be willing to kill a man who had disrespected and stolen from Knight, federal officials said.

According to authorities, Knight offered $10,000 for the man’s death.

In subsequent conversations and during the subsequent buys, Knight provided the informant with additional details regarding the man’s identity and the plan for the murder.

During one of the Vermont buys, Knight paid the informant a $1,000 deposit for the murder by canceling a drug debt.

Knight was taken into custody following that buy.

For the murder-for-hire charge, Knight faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Because the charged drug distributions involved 40 or more grams of fentanyl, Knight faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years if convicted.

For more information on the case, click on this link.