ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former deputy with the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison after admitting to a conspiracy involving smuggling drugs into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC) and trafficking women for his personal gain.
Robert Theodore Sanford Jr., 37, worked as a correctional officer at the Fairfax ADC from May 2021 to June 2023. Over several months, Sanford funneled drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, and Suboxone into the facility and passed along confidential law enforcement information to an inmate in exchange for bribes. In addition to contraband like cellphones, latex gloves, and glue, which helped conceal drugs, Sanford warned the inmate of upcoming cell searches, helping to hide their illegal activity.
Outside the jail, Sanford distributed drugs to women he trafficked from an apartment he rented, using their addictions to force them into prostitution.
“Robert Sanford preyed on the vulnerabilities of people in his care,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, expressing outrage at Sanford’s exploitation of both inmates and the women he trafficked.
The corruption was exposed in May 2023 when deputies uncovered contraband during a search of the inmate Sanford was conspiring with. The inmate had been hiding a cellphone, counterfeit oxycodone pills, Suboxone strips, and cocaine. Shortly after the discovery, Sanford tried to cover his tracks by scrubbing his digital payments and resigning from his position, falsely citing childcare issues.
Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey A. Kincaid commended the work of investigators for uncovering the scheme, noting that Sanford’s actions endangered both inmates and fellow deputies. “This criminal conduct within the ADC is unacceptable,” Kincaid said.
