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Ex-Slaying Suspect Now Charged With Trafficking Drugs

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By RAY REYES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2008

TAMPA - Rodney Roman, against whom a first-degree murder charge in the killing of football standout Kwane Doster was dropped, was arrested Thursday on drug trafficking, conspiracy and racketeering charges.

Roman, 31, is part of an organization that conspired to import cocaine and marijuana for distribution in the Tampa area, according to an arrest affidavit from Tampa police. During the past month, detectives monitored conversations between Roman, of 6202 N. 44th St., and Rodrick Randle Alexander, 26, the affidavit said.

Roman and Alexander had more than 20 conversations about purchasing, selling and distributing drugs, the affidavit said.

Both men are charged with trafficking in cocaine between 400 grams and 150 kilograms, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and racketeering. Roman and Alexander also are charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, a federal law that provides extended penalties for members of criminal organizations.

Roman is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail. Alexander is being held on $1 million bail.

Doster, who graduated from Robinson High School, was fatally shot Dec. 26, 2004, while he was visiting friends and family in Tampa. At the time, Doster was a junior running back at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

Roman was arrested days after the shooting, but prosecutors dropped the first-degree murder charge against him in 2006, citing "adverse evidentiary developments" that were "preventing the state from going forward in the prosecution of this case."

Kelly Doster, the mother of Kwane, said Roman's arrest "brought back some memories."

"It helps me to be able to get through some of the stress and the sadness and the pain I have been going through for the past 3 1/2 years," Doster said.

Editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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