Federal authorities in the United States have arrested an Indian-origin couple in Virginia for allegedly running a sophisticated sex and drug trafficking operation from their motel. The couple, identified as Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, operated the illegal activities from the Red Carpet Inn, which they leased.
Operation Details and Charges
According to court documents, the Sharmas used the third floor of their motel specifically for prostitution and drug sales while keeping regular guests on the lower floors. Federal attorneys in northern Virginia revealed that the couple took a direct cut of profits from all illegal activities conducted at the property.
The investigation uncovered that law enforcement conducted nine separate prostitution encounters at the motel between May 2025 and December 2025. During the same period, authorities made fifteen controlled purchases of illegal narcotics from the location.
Drug Trafficking Specifics
Of the fifteen controlled drug purchases, eleven involved fentanyl while the remaining four were for cocaine. The complaint specifically alleges that Margo Waldon Pierce, 51, distributed the illegal narcotics in all fifteen controlled purchases. Pierce was among three additional individuals arrested alongside the Sharma couple.
The other arrested individuals include Joshua Roderick, 40, and Rashard Perrish Smith, 33, all allegedly participating in the illegal operation. The Sharmas now face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including the dangerous opioid fentanyl.
Legal Consequences and Official Statements
If convicted, the accused face a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison. US Attorney Lindsey Halligan for the Eastern District of Virginia emphasized the severity of such crimes in an official statement.
"Drug trafficking and sex trafficking devastate communities by exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling violence and addiction," Halligan stated. "Our office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from human suffering. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable and disrupt the cycles of exploitation that threaten our communities."
Joint Investigation Efforts
The arrests resulted from a coordinated investigation involving multiple agencies. Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, acknowledged the collaborative effort.
"These arrests stem from a joint investigation between the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police," Davis confirmed. "I want to thank our partners for the investigative work they have done to further this investigation and to support one of our top priorities — combating violent crime. The FBI will continue to collaborate with federal and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug and sex trafficking rings and bring traffickers to justice."
The case highlights ongoing efforts by US authorities to combat organized crime operations that combine multiple illegal activities. The investigation specifically targeted operations exploiting vulnerable individuals through both sex work and dangerous drug distribution.
