Dumfries, Virginia — An Indian-origin couple operating a Virginia motel has been arrested following a dramatic FBI raid that exposed a sophisticated drug and sex trafficking network. Kosha Sharma, 52, known as "Ma" or "Mama K, and her husband, Tarun Sharma, 55, called Pop" or "Pa," face federal charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, alongside sex trafficking allegations. The January 15, 2026, raid marks the culmination of a months-long undercover investigation that documented illegal activities at the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries.
Key Facts
• Undercover agents conducted 9 prostitution encounters and 15 controlled drug purchases (11 fentanyl, 4 cocaine) between May 28 and December 17, 2025
• All five arrested defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison if convicted
• At least 8 women were exploited, charged between $80 and $150 per encounter, prevented from leaving freely, and subjected to physical abuse
The operation, coordinated by the FBI, Prince William County Police Department, and Virginia State Police, resulted in five arrests including three other co-conspirators: Margo Waldon Pierce (51), Joshua Roderick (40), and Rashard Perrish Smith (33).
Sharma couple strategically segregated motel guests, placing law-abiding customers on lower floors while directing those seeking drugs and prostitution to the third floor. Court documents reveal Kosha Sharma alerted occupants when police were nearby, attempting to obstruct officers from entering rooms.
Rashard Smith played a central trafficking role, renting multiple rooms for prostitution and supplying drugs to those involved. Witnesses told police he frequently provided massive amounts of pills and profited substantially from the operation.
Margo Pierce, also known as "Marko," distributed narcotics during all 15 controlled drug purchases according to prosecutors. The coordinated undercover operations involved FBI and county agents posing as prostitutes, pimps, and clients across multiple visits.
The raid unfolded dramatically early Thursday morning with armed officers arriving at the motel's parking lot shortly before 6 AM, weapons drawn. Video footage captured the coordinated takedown as all five suspects were detained at the scene, ending what authorities described as years of criminal enterprise.
US Attorney Lindsey Halligan from the Eastern District of Virginia stated in an official release that her office remains committed to dismantling criminal enterprises profiting from human suffering. Special FBI Agent Reid Davis praised the joint investigation, emphasizing law enforcement's continued dedication to disrupting trafficking networks.
The motel has since been closed following the raid. Assistant US Attorneys Catherine Rosenberg and Megan Braun are prosecuting the case, which represents a significant takedown of organized crime networks exploiting vulnerable women and flooding communities with deadly fentanyl.
All five defendants made their first court appearance on Friday, January 17, 2026. Federal prosecutors are actively pursuing additional charges and investigating potential connections to broader trafficking networks.
Do You Know?
This arrest marks the second major Indian-origin drug trafficking case in the US in January 2026 alone. On January 4, two Indian-origin truckers were arrested in Indiana after a routine traffic stop revealed they were smuggling over 300 pounds of cocaine, highlighting an emerging pattern in drug trafficking investigations targeting specific communities.
Key Terms
• Controlled Substance Purchase: An undercover law enforcement operation where agents buy illegal drugs from suspects while recording the transaction as evidence for prosecution
• Conspiracy to Distribute: A federal charge filed when two or more people agree to illegally distribute drugs, even if no actual distribution occurs
• Sex Trafficking: Forcing individuals into sexual acts through coercion, fraud, or manipulation for commercial purposes
• Fentanyl: A synthetic opioid 50-100 times more potent than morphine, commonly involved in overdose deaths and street-level drug operations
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