Stafford man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for selling lethal counterfeit pills

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A Stafford man was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, from at least February 2023 through January 2024, Thomas Lee Smith Jr., 35, obtained thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills, which were imprinted with "M30" but contained fentanyl, and provided them to redistributors, including co-defendant Shane Darontae Anderson, 37, to sell. Smith's co-conspirators obtained these drugs from a cartel-connected source in Arizona.

Anderson sold or agreed to sell over 17,500 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a cooperating source (CS). The total weight of these pills was approximately 1,500 net grams. Smith supplied Anderson with all the counterfeit pills provided to the CS and drove Anderson to multiple controlled buys. Smith's vehicle, which Anderson drove to a controlled buy, contained a trap compartment for concealed storage. Anderson also offered to sell cocaine to the CS, as Smith was able to obtain cocaine as well.

On Jan. 24, Smith and Anderson planned to sell 4,500 counterfeit pills to the CS for $8,000. When Smith and Anderson arrived at the meeting location in Stafford, law enforcement arrested them after the Smith and Anderson attempted to flee. Law enforcement searched Smith's vehicle and located the trap compartment, which contained 4,999 counterfeit pills, as well as a loaded handgun.

Anderson pled guilty on May 8 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Sept. 5, he was sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin S. Starr and Catherine Rosenberg prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:24-cr-106 (Smith) and 1: 24-CR-95 (Anderson).