Sarasota Man Indicted On Federal Gun Charges

A Sarasota man is facing a grand jury indictment on gun charges that could land him in federal prison for up to 10 years.

Roderick B. Sears, 34, of Sarasota, was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury for being a felon possessing four firearms and marijuana with the intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announced. Sears was arrested July 27.

If convicted on all counts, Sears, who also has multiple felony drug convictions, faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.

Sears was taken into federal custody Wednesday at his business without incident, but he first threw a blue bag which was recovered and contained 10 bags of marijuana weighing approximately three ounces, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

This was a joint investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and the Sarasota Police Department, and is part of an expansion of the partnership between agencies to reduce gun crime and ensure safe communities throughout the region, according to the sheriff's office.

Federal penalties can include up to 10 years for being a felon with a gun, a five year mandatory minimum for carrying a gun to a drug deal and a 15 year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for defendants with three prior violent felonies or drug crimes, according to the sheriff's office.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Federal authorities would not release additional details concerning the case.