TAMPA, FLORIDA – Alfred Clayton Rosier, Jr., 29, of Sarasota, has entered a guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute a significant quantity of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Announced by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, Rosier faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, with a potential for life imprisonment. The sentencing date is yet to be determined.
According to the plea agreement, the case unfolded on September 22, 2022, when a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy, assisted by a narcotics-detecting canine, intercepted a package at a FedEx facility. The package, later found to contain approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine, was addressed to a residence in Sarasota.
A joint operation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sarasota Police Department, and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office ensued, leading to a controlled delivery of part of the methamphetamine to the intended address. Rosier was apprehended outside the residence with a large box, which he attempted to discard in a white van upon noticing law enforcement. The subsequent search of the van and box revealed around 22 pounds of marijuana, 647 grams of methamphetamine, and a loaded pistol along with documents addressed to Rosier in a backpack.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Police Department, and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale is prosecuting the case.