(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
A couple of Indian descent, along with three other individuals, have been taken into custody in Virginia, United States, for trafficking drugs and sex after law enforcement officials conducted a raid at a motel connected to the criminal operations. Kosha Sharma, aged 52, and Tarun Sharma, aged 55, are said to have used the top floor of their Red Carpet Inn to sell drugs and engage in prostitution while keeping guests on the lower floors, based on information from federal prosecutors in northern Virginia. They were arrested following a raid by federal and local agents after a number of undercover investigations. Court records indicate that since May 2023, Kosha Sharma, also known as Ma or Mama K, along with Tarun Sharma, known as Pop or Pa, and Kosha LLC, operating as the "Red Carpet Inn," have leased and managed the motel. Allegations in a criminal complaint state that the married couple permitted a prostitution and drug operation to function from the motel while benefiting financially from the illegal activities. Authorities mentioned that Kosha would direct individuals looking for prostitutes and drugs to the third floor and would warn them if law enforcement approached, often preventing officers from entering the rooms.
Additionally, three other individuals—51-year-old Margo Pierce, 40-year-old Joshua Reddick, and 33-year-old Rashard Smith—were arrested during the operation for their involvement in the alleged illegal activities. Documents from the court revealed that between May and August 2025, undercover agents from Prince William County and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, posing as prostitutes, pimps, and clients, visited the motel at least nine times. The records indicated that at least eight women were exploited for prostitution from the inn, with Smith, along with several unnamed accomplices, charging between $80 and $150 for sexual services. Reports also stated that the women were not allowed to leave and suffered physical abuse. During the same period, undercover agents conducted 15 different drug transactions at the motel, purchasing fentanyl eleven times and cocaine four times.
"The complaint claims that Margo Waldon Pierce, also known as Marko, supplied the illegal drugs in all 15 controlled purchases," the documents stated. Police reported that the five individuals face charges for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. If found guilty, they face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will decide the overall sentence, taking into account the US Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
