ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Thomas Lee Smith Jr., 35, of Stafford, Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Smith supplied thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, which were sold by co-conspirators, including Shane Darontae Anderson, 37, to drug redistributors.
From February 2023 through January 2024, Smith obtained counterfeit pills imprinted with “M30” from a cartel-connected source in Arizona. These pills, which contained fentanyl, were distributed throughout the region. Anderson sold over 17,500 of these pills, weighing approximately 1,500 grams, to a cooperating source (CS) during controlled buys. Smith not only supplied the pills but also drove Anderson to multiple drug deals, using a vehicle equipped with a hidden compartment for concealed storage.
On January 24, 2024, Smith and Anderson were arrested while attempting to sell 4,500 counterfeit pills for $8,000. Law enforcement officers searched Smith’s vehicle and found 4,999 counterfeit pills and a loaded handgun in the hidden compartment.
Anderson pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced on September 5, 2024, to 10 years and five months in prison.
