A federal jury found Adrienne Rosse, 37, of Arlington, Tennessee, guilty on April 23 of two counts of cyberstalking after she mailed harassing letters about a Shelby County Assistant District Attorney. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the verdict.
The case centers on retaliation against a public official and highlights the risks faced by prosecutors in carrying out their duties. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee advances community safety through federal law enforcement and public outreach efforts, according to the official website.
During trial proceedings, evidence showed that Rosse’s husband was being prosecuted by the Shelby County District Attorneys’ Office for rape and sexual battery charges. After a mistrial in 2023 due to a hung jury and failed plea negotiations, Adrienne Rosse sent anonymous letters containing false accusations about the prosecuting Assistant District Attorney (ADA) to several officials and organizations. The letters included graphic descriptions and pornographic images resembling the ADA.
In November 2023, Rosse sent another round of similar anonymous letters to local defense attorneys when no professional consequences befell the ADA. As a result of this harassment campaign, the ADA left her position at the Shelby County office and relocated but continued her career as a prosecutor elsewhere.
Rosse faces up to five years in prison, fines up to $250,000, and three years supervised release at sentencing scheduled for August 5 before U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris. There is no parole in federal cases.
Dunavant said: “Prosecutors seek justice every day without fear or favor on behalf of the public, and no person deserves to be victimized and retaliated against because of their public service occupation. The defendant’s attempt to destroy the distinguished career of an ADA is reprehensible, and we will seek a significant sentence in this case to deliver justice for the victim and hold this offender accountable.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter while Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and Raven Icaza prosecuted it.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee is one among ninety-three offices under the Department of Justice according to its official website. This office handles prosecutions involving federal crimes as well as civil matters across its region from locations in Memphis and Jackson according to its official website. It traces its origins back over two centuries according to its official website.
