FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Fredericksburg woman accused of helping move drug proceeds and coordinate shipments of thousands of fentanyl pills from Arizona to Virginia has been indicted on a federal conspiracy charge, according to court records.
A federal grand jury indicted Lataija Ancrum on Thursday, on one count related to an alleged conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl. The alleged conspiracy operated from about September 2023 through August 2024, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Ancrum is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted, she would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life, along with a potential fine of up to $10 million, under federal law.
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent alleged that Ancrum, who was based in Fredericksburg, laundered drug proceeds and transferred money between Virginia distributors and alleged co-conspirators in Phoenix.
Ancrum’s husband, Khalil Williams, allegedly redistributed fentanyl pills in Virginia while Ancrum sent payments to suppliers and received payments from other members of the conspiracy, according to the affidavit.
Investigators reviewed Ancrum’s Cash App records and alleged that she transferred at least $50,200 to two Phoenix-based co-conspirators between September 2023 and February 2024. The payments were generally in round-dollar amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
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The affidavit describes a September 2023 exchange in which Williams allegedly directed Ancrum to send $4,500 to a Phoenix contact. Several days later, Williams sent her a receipt for a parcel being shipped to Stafford, investigators said.
On Oct. 4, 2023, Ancrum allegedly sent Williams a photograph showing fentanyl pills on a countertop. Investigators said the countertop matched one in a Fredericksburg residence shared by Ancrum and Williams.
Court records also allege that co-conspirator Alhagi Conteh transferred at least $13,620 to Ancrum between August 2023 and April 2024. Many of the payments contained the comment “rent,” which the DEA agent described as a term used to disguise drug payments.
During a controlled operation on March 26, 2024, Conteh allegedly collected $2,500 from a confidential source in Woodbridge before driving to a parking lot near Warrenton Road in Fredericksburg.
Agents said they watched Williams meet Conteh there. Conteh then returned to Woodbridge and provided the confidential source with about 2,000 blue pills, according to the affidavit. Laboratory testing determined that the pills contained 190.41 grams of fentanyl.
Investigators said Conteh returned to the Fredericksburg area for another suspected transaction on March 31, 2024. About 17 minutes after the suspected meeting, he sent Ancrum $1,050 through Cash App with the comment “rent,” according to court records.
The affidavit also describes two packages intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in the summer of 2024.
One package mailed from Phoenix to the home of Ancrum’s friend in Woodbridge contained suspected fentanyl pills hidden inside a Bluetooth speaker, investigators said. The contents weighed approximately 1,094.5 grams, including the plastic packaging.
Investigators alleged that Ancrum helped arrange for her friend’s address to be used and coordinated with the friend to receive the parcel.
A second package was sent to Williams’ address in Dumfries in August 2024. Laboratory testing found that it contained approximately 10,257 fentanyl pills with a net weight of about 1.1 kilograms, according to the affidavit.
When the package was not delivered as expected, Ancrum allegedly advised Williams not to search for the mail carrier because she did not want them to appear suspicious.
Conteh, Williams and Samuel Vazquez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, the affidavit said. Conteh and Williams each received 10-year prison sentences. Vazquez was sentenced to two years.
Ancrum was arrested April 15Stafford Teen Charged With Felony Hit-and-Run After Allegedly Fleeing Crash While Racing and released on a personal-recognizance bond with conditions. A judge later ordered her to surrender any concealed-weapon permit and prohibited her from obtaining a new permit or similar document.
The court initially scheduled Ancrum’s arraignment for Monday, July 20, in Alexandria. Her attorney filed a motion Thursday seeking to continue the hearing. The docket reviewed for this story did not show a decision on that request.
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