Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Roderick B. Sears (34, Sarasota) to 7 years and 10 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. The court also ordered Sears to forfeit the seven firearms and ammunition he possessed. Sears pleaded guilty on November 7, 2012.
According to court documents, Sears has multiple prior drug felony convictions. Because of the prior convictions, Sears is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. In July 2012, Sears possessed seven firearms, five of which were loaded. He also had more than 300 grams of marijuana, which he intended to distribute and had packaged for sale.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, and the Sarasota Police Department. It was be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
It is another case prosecuted as a part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods" program - a nationwide, gun-violence reduction strategy led by ATF. United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill, along with Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, is coordinating the Project Safe Neighborhoods effort here in the Middle District of Florida in cooperation with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
