An Indian-origin couple, Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, have been arrested in the United States following an FBI raid on a Virginia motel they managed. The couple, also known as Mama K and Pop, face charges related to running a drug and sex trafficking operation at the Red Carpet Inn in Dumfries.

The coordinated operation, executed by the FBI and the Prince William County Police, followed a lengthy investigation into drug distribution and sex trafficking at the motel located on Dumfries Road. Authorities arrived at the Red Carpet Inn's parking lot with weapons drawn early on January 15.

According to court records, the Sharmas, operating through their company Kosha LLC, had been leasing and running the Red Carpet Inn since May 2023. Prosecutors allege that the couple took a cut from the illegal activities occurring on the motel's third floor while renting rooms to regular guests on the lower levels. The complaint accuses them of profiting from prostitution and narcotics sales.

The investigation involved extensive surveillance and undercover operations. From late May to mid-December 2025, law enforcement conducted nine prostitution encounters and fifteen controlled drug purchases at the motel. Eleven of those purchases involved fentanyl, and four involved cocaine. Margo Waldon Pierce allegedly distributed the illegal narcotics in all 15 purchases.

In addition to the Sharmas, three other individuals, Margo Waldon Pierce, Joshua Roderick, and Rashard Perrish Smith, were also arrested. All five face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. All five defendants made their first court appearance on Friday.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, stated that these types of crimes have a devastating impact on communities. She added that drug and sex trafficking exploit vulnerable individuals while fueling addiction and violence, and authorities are committed to dismantling criminal networks that profit from human suffering.

This case has drawn attention due to the significant presence of Indian-origin entrepreneurs in the U.S. hospitality sector. An estimated 60% of hotels in the country are owned by Indian-origin hoteliers, many of whom are members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).