A drug dealer comforted his defense attorney and thanked the jury that handed him his fourth drug distribution conviction today before acknowledging that he was a repeat offender, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

FREDERICK ROUSE (D.O.B. 5/13/83), who has no fixed address, was found guilty today of distribution of a Class B substance, violating the state’s drug laws in a school zone, and resisting arrest.

As the Suffolk Superior Court jury foreperson read the verdicts, Rouse could be seen patting the back of his attorney, Timothy Brown, as if to reassure him. When the twelve jurors filed out of the courtroom, Rouse faced them and lowered his head.

“Thank y’all,” he said without any sign of anger or irony.

Rouse then waived his right to a trial on an additional indictment alleging that he was a second or subsequent offender on the distribution charge. Had that trial taken place, Suffolk prosecutors were prepared to prove that Rouse was the same defendant convicted of three prior drug distribution charges.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Frank Gaziano sentenced Rouse to a total of five and a half years in a house of correction to be followed by three years of probation upon his release.

The case arose out of Rouse’s June 3, 2009, sale of a small quantity of crack cocaine to an undercover Boston Police officer in a walkway between Harrison Avenue and Washington Street. When the officer attempted to place him under arrest, Rouse fled across four lanes of traffic on Washington Street before additional officers took him into custody.