Sarasota, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Alfred Clayton Rosier, Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Sarasota, to 15 years in federal prison. Rosier’s charges included possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty to these charges on January 18, 2024, acknowledging his involvement in these serious offenses.
Investigation and Arrest
The investigation leading to Rosier’s arrest began in mid-2021, involving coordinated efforts from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sarasota Police Department (SPD), and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). The pivotal moment in the case occurred on September 22, 2022, when a FedEx representative alerted the authorities about a suspicious parcel at their Manatee County facility. This package, initially noted by a FedEx employee, contained black vacuum-sealed bags, a packaging method frequently used to conceal narcotics.
A deputy from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded promptly, retrieving the package and subsequently confirming the presence of narcotics through a canine sniff test. With a warrant secured, the authorities discovered sixteen pounds of a crystal substance within the package, later identified as methamphetamine through lab testing.
The next phase of the investigation saw DEA agents orchestrate a controlled delivery of the package to its intended address on McCloud Circle in Sarasota. This delivery was made under the guise of an undercover SCSO detective. Surveillance teams observed Rosier retrieving a large box from a white van parked outside his residence.
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The Confrontation and Evidence Seizure
As law enforcement moved in to apprehend him, Rosier attempted to discard the package and escape by jumping into the driver’s seat of a nearby blue sedan. When captured, he was found with part of the package’s label under him, a loaded Draco pistol with a 30-round magazine in a backpack, along with prescription medication in his name, cellphone receipts, and another FedEx shipping label for a package sent to California.
Further searches of the van and the discarded box revealed about 22 pounds of marijuana and an additional 647 grams of methamphetamine, confirming Rosier’s deep involvement in drug trafficking operations.
Legal Proceedings and Community Impact
This case was meticulously investigated by the DEA, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Manatee County Sherriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale. The thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution underscore the commitment of federal and local agencies to combat the intertwined issues of drug trafficking and associated violent crimes.
