A federal jury found Adrienne Rosse, 37, of Arlington, Tennessee, guilty on April 23 of two counts of cyberstalking for sending harassing letters about a Shelby County Assistant District Attorney. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict.
The case highlights concerns over retaliation against public officials and the impact such actions can have on their professional and personal lives. According to information presented at trial, Rosse’s husband was being prosecuted by the Shelby County District Attorneys’ Office for rape and sexual battery. After a mistrial in 2023 due to a hung jury, the Assistant District Attorney offered a plea agreement that was rejected by Charles Rosse. The prosecution remained pending.
Adrienne Rosse sent anonymous letters in August 2023 to various officials and organizations falsely accusing the ADA of having a secret career in pornography, enclosing graphic descriptions and photos of women resembling the ADA. In November 2023, she sent similar material to local defense attorneys after seeing no professional consequences for the ADA. As a result of this harassment, the ADA left her position at the Shelby County District Attorney’s office and relocated but has continued her career elsewhere as a prosecutor.
A sentencing hearing is set for August 5 before U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris. Rosse faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and three years supervised release; 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 case while Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and Raven Icaza prosecuted it.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee advances community safety through federal law enforcement efforts according to its official website. It is one of 93 offices under the Department of Justice according to its official website serving western Tennessee from offices located in Memphis and Jackson according to its official website. The office handles prosecutions of federal crimes as well as civil matters involving defense or representation for the United States government according to its official website. Its history dates back as far as 1803 according to its official website.