Marion Man Pleads Guilty in Mail-Ordered Fentanyl Case

ABINGDON, Va. – Kobe Malik Woods, 19, of Marion, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted possession with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl after ordering the drugs through the U.S. Mail.

According to court documents, in early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia.  As part of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted a parcel shipped from California, addressed to Woods’ residence, that contained approximately 800 fentanyl pills.  

Although they resembled pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, the pills that were mailed to Woods were inconsistent in size, shape, and color, indicating that they were counterfeit pills.  Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “Roxicodone,” “pressed,” or “M30” pills because they have an imprint of an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other side.

On June 28, 2021, law enforcement executed a controlled delivery of the parcel to Woods’ home in Marion, Virginia. While conducting surveillance on the residence, investigators observed a woman retrieve the package and take it inside the home.

When Woods returned home, investigators executed a search warrant on the home. Woods was detained after trying to flee the rear of the residence, and later admitted to law enforcement that he ordered the pills through Snapchat from a supplier in California.

Woods is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the guilty plea.

The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.