Fredericksburg Fentanyl Conspiracy Defendant Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Set

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Fredericksburg woman accused of participating in a large-scale fentanyl distribution conspiracy has pleaded not guilty to the federal charge against her, setting the case on course for a jury trial this fall.

Lataija Ancrum appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for her arraignment on a federal indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to the court record, Ancrum waived a formal reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty. She demanded a jury trial, which was scheduled for Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. Before trial, both sides have 14 days to file pretrial motions. The court also entered protective and discovery orders.

Ancrum remains free on bond while awaiting trial.

Federal prosecutors allege Ancrum participated in a conspiracy that distributed 400 grams or more of fentanyl between September 2023 and August 2024. As previously reported by Patch, the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if she is convicted.

Under the U.S. Constitution, Ancrum is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

What's Next

The next major milestone in the case is the Sept. 23 jury trial in Alexandria, where prosecutors will seek to prove the conspiracy charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Pretrial motions are expected to be filed in the coming weeks.