Registered sexual offender arrested for dealing drugs and not reporting changes to registration information

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Albert Lee Wilson, Jr., 46, was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with multiple drug dealing offenses; multiple charges for failing to provide registration information as a sexual offender were added yesterday.

Wilson was designated a sexual offender in 2000 and is required to provide his home address, any email addresses or Internet accounts, and changes to phone numbers to law enforcement.

In June 2022, a confidential source told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Detective that Wilson was selling substitute cathinone from an apartment near the intersection of SW 20th Avenue and SW 61st Terrace. The source also provided a cell phone number and Facebook account that was used by Wilson, but the address, phone number, and Facebook account had not been reported by Wilson to law enforcement.

In September 2022, another informant said Wilson was selling cocaine and marijuana with the same phone number and address provided by the previous informant.

In October 2022, detectives reportedly set up a controlled buy of cocaine and marijuana from Wilson using a confidential source; the transaction occurred within 1,000 feet of Split Rock Conservation Area, which is a park.

In January 2023, detectives reportedly found multiple Facebook accounts that had been used by Wilson for several years, as well as a current account with recent posts. Wilson reportedly posted multiple “selfies” on the account, which, like the other accounts, had not been reported to law enforcement.

Detectives also surveilled the apartment and reported that Wilson spent the night at the apartment, which had not been reported to law enforcement.

Wilson has been charged with possessing cocaine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a park, selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park, possessing marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a park, selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a park, maintaining a structure for the purpose of selling drugs, and possessing drug paraphernalia. He has also been charged with failing to report an Internet account, failing to report a change in his residence, failing to report a change in his phone number, and providing false registration information.

Wilson has 10 felony convictions, including two previous convictions for failing to comply with registration requirements, and has served five state prison sentences, with his last release in 2018. He also has a federal conviction. Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $551,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.