Sarah Maud Jess, a 62-year-old Jamaican national residing in Capitol Heights, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to charges of distributing over 40 grams of fentanyl and illegally re-entering the United States after being previously removed following an aggravated felony conviction. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.
Jess's guilty plea details her involvement in distributing fentanyl between November 2023 and October 2024. Law enforcement seized more than 3,000 fentanyl pills from Jess during the investigation. Undercover operations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) involved controlled purchases from Jess in Greenbelt, Maryland.
On June 21, 2024, an undercover agent bought approximately 600 fentanyl pills from Jess for $3,600. A subsequent purchase on September 4 involved around 1,000 pills for $6,000. Another transaction was planned on October 2 but was interrupted by law enforcement officers who took Jess into custody during a traffic stop.
Authorities found that Jess had provided false identification and discovered additional drugs and a firearm at her residence during a search warrant execution. Despite being removed from the U.S. previously due to an aggravated felony conviction related to marijuana distribution in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Jess unlawfully re-entered the country without permission.
Jess faces significant prison time with a mandatory minimum of five years for the drug charge and up to 20 years for illegal re-entry. Sentencing is set for October 29 at 2 p.m., with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DEA, FBI Baltimore Field Office, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), and Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) for their investigative efforts.
For further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office resources and community outreach programs visit justice.gov/usao-md.
