Maryland State Wire

Roddrick Navara Shelby, a 48-year-old resident of Laurel, Maryland, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis.

The announcement came from Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division and Chief Marc R. Yamada of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).

According to Shelby's guilty plea, law enforcement began investigating him in November 2024 over suspected fentanyl trafficking activities. The DEA and MCPD conducted three controlled purchases during which Shelby sold about 500 pills to a confidential source.

Laboratory analysis revealed that the blue pills, marked with “M30” similar to legitimate oxycodone tablets, actually contained fentanyl rather than oxycodone hydrochloride. Over the course of the investigation, Shelby sold approximately 1,471 fentanyl pills—amounting to more than 150 grams—to the confidential source.

On March 20, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shelby’s home and vehicle in Laurel. Officers found assorted ammunition including one loaded magazine and several empty Glock magazines (.357 caliber and .45 caliber), as well as about 63 rounds of ammunition throughout the residence. Three digital scales with white residue and three small-knotted baggies suspected to contain cocaine were also discovered in a kitchen drawer.

Kelly O. Hayes commended both the DEA and MCPD for their roles in the investigation: "U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation." She also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright for prosecuting the case: "Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright, who prosecuted the case."

Additional information about community resources is available through the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office website as well as its community outreach page.