Inside Red Carpet Inn case: How an Indian-origin couple allegedly ran a drug and sex trafficking ring from a US motel

The accused are Tarun Sharma, 55, and his wife Kosha Sharma, 52, along with Margo Waldon Pierce, 51, Joshua Roderick, 40, and Rashard Perrish Smith, 33.

US authorities arrested an Indian-origin couple and three others for running drug and sex trafficking from a Virginia motel. The group faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted. The FBI-led raid followed a multi-year probe involving undercover operations.

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US federal authorities have arrested an Indian-origin couple and three others for allegedly running a drug and sex trafficking operation from a motel in Virginia. The accused are Tarun Sharma, 55, and his wife Kosha Sharma, 52, along with Margo Waldon Pierce, 51, Joshua Roderick, 40, and Rashard Perrish Smith, 33.

Prosecutors say the group allowed large-scale prostitution and drug trafficking, including fentanyl sales, from the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries. The five were arrested during an early morning raid on January 15 and have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Why the FBI raided the motel

The raid was carried out jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.

The operation took place shortly after 6 am on January 15 at the Red Carpet Inn, following a multi-year investigation into suspected drug distribution and sex trafficking at the property.

“These arrests stem from a joint investigation between the FBI, the Prince William County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police,” Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, told Fox5.

He added, “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.”

What court documents reveal

According to court records cited by the US Department of Justice, authorities carried out nine undercover prostitution encounters and 15 controlled drug purchases at the motel between May 28 and December 17, 2025.

Of the 15 drug purchases, 11 involved fentanyl and four involved cocaine. Prosecutors allege that Margo Waldon Pierce distributed illegal narcotics in all 15 transactions.

The documents also state that at least eight women were exploited at the motel. Police allege that Smith and others charged between $80 and $150 for sex and that the women were prevented from leaving and subjected to physical abuse.

In a statement released on January 16, the Department of Justice confirmed that all five defendants made their first court appearance on Friday.

Role of the Indian-origin couple

At the centre of the case are Tarun Sharma, also known as Pop, and Kosha Sharma, also known as Mama K. Authorities allege the couple owned and operated the motel through a company registered as Kosha LLC and knowingly allowed the third floor to be used for prostitution and drug trafficking.

Investigators say the Sharmas profited from the illegal activity and provided shelter to drug dealers and trafficking victims. Police allege that Kosha Sharma actively facilitated the operation by directing customers seeking drugs or prostitutes to specific rooms.

Court filings also claim that she warned those inside the motel when police arrived, sometimes preventing officers from entering rooms where illegal activity was taking place.

“Drug trafficking and sex trafficking devastate communities by exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling violence and addiction,” Lindsey Halligan, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, told Fox5.

“Our office is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises that profit from human suffering,” she said. “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold offenders accountable and disrupt the cycles of exploitation that threaten our communities.”

Pattern of similar cases involving Indian nationals

The Virginia arrests come amid a series of recent cases involving Indian nationals and organised crime in the United States.

Last week, two Indian truck drivers, Gurpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh, were arrested in Indiana after authorities discovered 309 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $7 million during a routine highway inspection. Officials said the drugs seized were “enough to kill more than 113,000 Americans.”

In another case last year, federal prosecutors charged five Indian Americans in connection with a human trafficking and immigration fraud network operating across multiple hotels in Nebraska. Investigators alleged that minors and adults were exploited for sex and forced labour at properties owned or managed by the accused.

What happens next

The five defendants remain in custody as the investigation continues. Prosecutors are expected to present further evidence in court as the case proceeds.

For US authorities, the arrests mark a significant step in targeting organised trafficking networks operating behind legitimate businesses. For the victims, investigators say the focus remains on rescue, rehabilitation, and justice.