Former “America’s Most Wanted” Fugitive Sentenced for Role in Multi-State Drug Ring including Hagerstown Area

A significant federal drug trafficking case originating in West Virginia has concluded with the sentencing of Samuel Rose, a key figure previously featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia announced that Rose, 53, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 190 months in federal prison. This sentence stems from his conviction for distributing cocaine. Rose was part of a broader investigation involving 35 defendants and operated across multiple states.

During the investigation, Rose was identified as a distributor of substantial quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. His supply network was reportedly linked to a hub located in Hagerstown, Maryland, described as an appliance store and warehouse. Drugs were allegedly concealed within appliances and transported as part of this illicit operation. Law enforcement officials seized a considerable amount of narcotics during the investigation, including nearly 19 pounds of cocaine, over two pounds of heroin, and close to one pound of cocaine base, with an estimated street value of approximately $471,000. This operation highlights the lengths to which criminal organizations will go to traffic illegal substances, concealing them in everyday items.

At the time of these offenses, Rose was already on supervised release for a previous drug conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia. He became a fugitive in 2021 following his indictment in this case and was subsequently apprehended in 2024. Rose also faces pending drug charges in Pennsylvania. The leader of the broader drug organization, Lenin Luna Mota, received a sentence of 280 months in October 2025. To date, 33 out of the 35 defendants have been convicted, with their sentences totaling a combined 94 years of imprisonment. Authorities are still seeking Chelsea Nicole Pinkcett in connection with this investigation.

The successful prosecution of this multi-state drug ring was a collaborative effort involving numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. These included the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the West Virginia Air National Guard. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative encompassing agencies such as the West Virginia State Police and multiple local police departments, also played a crucial role. Additional support came from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Hagerstown Police Department, the National Resources Police Department, the FBI’s New York Safe Streets Task Force, the New York Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Washington County (Maryland) Drug Task Force, the Maryland State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Maryland and the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The designation of fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality underscores the significant public safety threat posed by such operations. This case is part of a national initiative aimed at dismantling criminal organizations and combating violent crime.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of West Virginia

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