NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Dumfries, VA., January 19, 2025 — A married Indian-American couple who operated a motel in northern Virginia have been federally charged in connection with an alleged drug trafficking and prostitution operation run from the property, according to U.S. authorities.
Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, are among five people charged following a months-long investigation into illegal activity at the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries, located in Prince William County. Federal prosecutors allege the couple allowed drug sales and prostitution to operate out of the motel while continuing to run it as a regular lodging business.
According to investigators, the Sharmas leased and managed the motel through a business entity and are accused of knowingly permitting criminal activity to take place on one floor of the property. Court filings allege that controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, were sold on the premises and that prostitution services were arranged there over several months in 2025.
The case came to a head following a law-enforcement raid on January 15, 2026. Authorities say undercover officers conducted multiple controlled drug purchases and documented prostitution transactions at the motel prior to the arrests.
Three other individuals — Margo Waldon Pierce, 51; Joshua Roderick, 40; and Rashard Perrish Smith, 33 — have also been charged in the case. Prosecutors allege all five defendants were part of a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and profit from the illegal activity.
The charges have been filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. If convicted on the drug conspiracy count, defendants could face lengthy prison sentences, including a mandatory minimum term under federal law.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.
The case remains under judicial review, and additional details are expected to emerge as court proceedings continue.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Cover Photos credit: Alexandria Sheriff’s Office
