State Attorney Dennis Ward announced on May 13 that Rollins E. Warden, 56, of Key West, was sentenced to seven years in Florida State Prison without the possibility of early release. He was arrested in February 2023 with trafficking-level quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. Warden was arrested again in February 2025 with significant amounts of drugs. Warden pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty on all charges as part of a negotiated plea agreement accepted by the court, states a press release from the state attorney’s office.
The initial arrest took place on Feb. 28, 2023, when Key West Police caught Warden speeding on South Roosevelt Boulevard. During the traffic stop, K-9 Jigsaw alerted police to the presence of drugs in Warden’s vehicle. A search revealed 144 grams of cocaine, 143 grams of methamphetamine, 1.6 grams of marijuana, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia. Warden admitted to officers at the scene that he had recently been smoking crack cocaine.
He was found guilty on the following charges:
- Trafficking in cocaine (28 grams to under 150 kilograms), a first-degree felony
- Sale or possession of methamphetamine (14 grams or more), a first-degree felony
- Possession of not more than 20 grams of marijuana, a misdemeanor
- Possession and/or use of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor
In addition to his prison sentence, Warden was ordered to pay $158,000 in fines and court costs, and his driver’s license was suspended.
“This was a serious and dangerous case involving trafficking-level quantities of drugs that destroy lives and communities,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “I want to commend the Key West Police Department for their outstanding work and attention to detail,” citing Detectives Andrew Hudson and Christopher Bozzetti, Sergeant Jay Conaty, Sergeant David Kouri, K-9 Jigsaw, and Officers Thomas Anglin and Stephen Adorno. “I also thank Assistant State Attorney Jon Byrne for his thorough handling of the case and for negotiating a resolution that protects the residents of Monroe County.”
The plea and sentencing were accepted by Judge Mark Jones.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield added, “The no-contest plea and full adjudication in this case reflect the strength of the evidence and the excellent coordination between law enforcement and our prosecution team. This was a clear message that large-scale drug trafficking will not be tolerated in our community.”
