Search Nets Nearly 2 Pounds Of Meth; Clearwater Man Pleads Guilty

CLEARWATER, FL — A 34-year-old Clearwater man has pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drug.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg said Justin Roberson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the facts presented at the change of plea hearing, in 2021 Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Tampa, partnering with law enforcement officers from the Clearwater Police Department, launched an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the area and received information that Roberson was selling methamphetamine in Clearwater.

On Sept. 15, 2021, Roberson called a confidential source working with law enforcement and said that he had “a lot” of methamphetamine and was selling it “by the pound.”

Through coded conversations, Roberson and the informant agreed to meet at a business associated with Roberson on North Meteor Avenue in Clearwater to complete the purchase of the methamphetamine. During the drug transaction, Roberson sold four individual plastic baggies, each containing a crystallized substance inside. The substance obtained from Roberson was later analyzed by the DEA and found to be approximately 893 grams (1.96 pounds) of methamphetamine hydrochloride.

On July 8, agents executed a federal search warrant at the North Meteor Avenue location and located a fully loaded AR-15 rifle, ammunition, a kilogram of cocaine, numerous pills—including more than 579 grams of MDMA, a quantity of marijuana, digital scales, baggies, a currency counter and cash.

On that same date, agents also conducted a consent search of Roberson’s residence and found an AK-47 rifle, additional rifle magazines, a Glock handgun, several AR-15-style rifles and more cash.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.