An Indian American married couple who allegedly leased and operated a Dumfries, Virginia, motel are among five people charged in federal court this week in connection with an alleged sex trafficking and drug distribution network, according to prosecutors.
Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, are accused of running the Red-Carpet Inn, a budget motel on Dumfries Road, where authorities say illegal drug sales and prostitution were allowed to flourish over an extended period. Federal officials allege the couple played a central role in enabling the operation by controlling the property through their business.
The arrests followed a series of undercover operations conducted by federal investigators. According to court documents, Kosha Sharma, also known as “Ma” or “Mama K,” and her husband, Tarun Sharma, known as “Pop” or “Pa,” have allegedly been involved in the trafficking operation since May 2023.
The Indian American couple leased and operated the property through Kosha LLC, which ran the motel under the name Red Carpet Inn. Federal prosecutors in Northern Virginia allege that legitimate guests were housed on the first and second floors, while illegal activity was concentrated elsewhere in the motel.
The charges follow a coordinated early-morning raid carried out on January 15 by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies. Officers entered the motel shortly before 6 am with guns drawn, surrounding the building and taking multiple individuals into custody without incident. The raid marked the culmination of a multi-year investigation into criminal activity allegedly tied to the motel.
Prosecutors say the operation was primarily centered on the third floor of the property. According to court filings, occupants there engaged in the sale of controlled substances and in prostitution, an activity that investigators monitored closely for months. Undercover officers allegedly conducted a series of controlled drug purchases and prostitution encounters at the motel between May and December 2025.
Of the 15 controlled narcotics buys cited in court documents, 11 involved fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has fueled a nationwide overdose crisis. The remaining transactions allegedly involved cocaine. Authorities said the prevalence of fentanyl heightened concerns about the danger the operation posed to the surrounding community.
In addition to the Sharmas, the defendants include Margo Waldon Pierce, Joshua Roderick, and Rashard Perrish Smith, who are accused of participating directly in the drug distribution and prostitution activities.
All five face federal charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
While prosecutors have not yet publicly detailed whether the prostitution involved coercion or force, the combination of alleged drug trafficking and sexual exploitation drew the attention of federal authorities.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Washington Field Office in partnership with the Prince William County Police Department and the Virginia State Police.
In a statement, Lindsey Halligan, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said the alleged conduct “devastates communities by exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling violence and addiction.” She added that her office remains focused on holding accountable those who enable or profit from such criminal enterprises.
Defense attorneys for the accused did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it remains unclear whether any of the defendants have entered pleas. A federal judge is expected to oversee pretrial proceedings, during which prosecutors may present additional evidence and testimony.
Authorities encouraged anyone with information related to criminal activity at the motel or similar operations in Northern Virginia to contact federal or local law enforcement as the investigation continues.
