Maryland State Wire

Sarah Maud Jess, a 62-year-old Jamaican national residing in Capitol Heights, Maryland, has pled guilty to charges of distributing over 40 grams of fentanyl and illegal re-entry into the United States after being removed following an aggravated felony conviction. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with several law enforcement officials.

Jess's guilty plea reveals that she distributed fentanyl in Maryland and other locations between November 2023 and October 2024. The drugs were sold as pressed pills marked "M30." During the investigation, a DEA undercover agent purchased fentanyl from Jess on multiple occasions. Law enforcement seized more than 3,000 fentanyl pills totaling over 350 grams from her possession.

On June 21, 2024, an undercover operation led to the purchase of approximately 600 fentanyl pills from Jess in Greenbelt, Maryland for $3,600. Another transaction occurred on September 4 when about 1,000 pills were bought for $6,000. Further attempts to sell were intercepted by law enforcement on October 2 at a Silver Spring mall parking lot.

Jess also provided false identification during her arrest and was found with additional drugs and a firearm at her residence. Previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana in Prince George’s County, Jess had been deported but unlawfully re-entered the U.S.

For the fentanyl charge alone, Jess faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of forty years in federal prison. The illegal re-entry charge carries a potential twenty-year sentence. Sentencing is set for October 29.

U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the efforts of various law enforcement agencies involved in this case and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter for prosecuting.

For further details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its community resources visit justice.gov/usao-md.