Stafford Man Convicted Of Distributing Counterfeit Pills Sentenced

STAFFORD, VA – Thomas Lee Smith Jr., a 35-year-old Stafford man, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 10 years and 10 months in prison. He had earlier been convicted of distributing fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

From at least February 2023 through January 2024, Smith had obtained thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills, which he provided to redistributors, including 37-year-old Shane Darontae Anderson, to sell, according to court records.

Even though the pills were imprinted with "M30," they actually contained fentanyl. Smith's co-conspirators had obtained the fake pills from a cartel-connected source in Arizona, according to court records.

Anderson sold or agreed to sell to a cooperating source more than 17,500 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, according to court records. Not only did Smith supply Anderson with all the fake pills the cooperating source received, his vehicle was used by Anderson to deliver the pills. Anderson also offered to provide cocaine that Smith was able to obtain for the cooperating source to sell.

Smith and Anderson planned to sell 4,500 counterfeit pills to the cooperating source for $8,000 at a Jan. 24 meetup in Stafford, authorities say. Law enforcement arrested Smith and Anderson at the meetup after they tried to flee. A search of Smith's vehicle revealed a trap compartment containing a loaded handgun and 4,999 counterfeit pills.

On May 8, Anderson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to court records. He was sentenced on Sept. 5 to 10 years and five months in prison.