Laurel Man Enters Plea In Fentanyl Distribution Case

LAUREL, MD — Roddrick Navara Shelby, 48, of Laurel has pleaded guilty in federal court to the distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

In November 2024, the DEA and MCPD began investigating Shelby in connection with suspected fentanyl trafficking. During their investigation, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases where Shelby sold a confidential source approximately 500 pills. The pills were blue in color and imprinted with “M30” – mimicking the markings on legitimate pills that one would receive from a manufacturer containing oxycodone hydrochloride. As confirmed by a laboratory analysis, the blue “M30” pills contained fentanyl. In total, Shelby sold approximately 1,471 fentanyl pills, or more than 150 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, to the confidential source, according to the prosecution.

On the morning of March 20, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Shelby’s residence and vehicle in Laurel. In a kitchen drawer, and other places in the home, police identified ammunition, one loaded magazine, two empty .357 caliber Glock magazines and one empty .45 caliber Glock magazine. Police found approximately 63 rounds of ammunition. Due to a prior conviction, Shelby was prohibited from legally owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. In a kitchen drawer, law enforcement found three digital scales with white residue and three small-knotted baggies containing what seizing officers suspected was cocaine, prosecution reported.

Shelby faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years. Sentencing has been set for July 15 at 10 a.m.