Alexandria, Va. – A former deputy with the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) admitted to smuggling drugs and other contraband into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (Fairfax ADC) in return for bribe payments.
Robert Theodore Sanford Jr., 37, served as a correctional officer at Fairfax ADC from May 2021 until June 2023. Court documents reveal that between December 2022 and May 2023, Sanford smuggled items such as a cell phone, fentanyl, cocaine, and Suboxone into the facility. He also provided latex gloves and glue to help an inmate conceal these items, which were then trafficked to other inmates.
Sanford also leaked sensitive law enforcement information to the inmate. This included details about upcoming cell searches, the specific cell blocks targeted, and the deployment of drug-sniffing dogs. Additionally, he shared information about other inmates, which allowed his co-conspirator to intimidate potential informants.
Outside the detention center, Sanford sourced drugs from the inmate’s associates and distributed them to women living in an apartment he leased, which also served as a base for prostitution.
The illicit operation came to light on May 4, 2023, when FCSO deputies conducted a strip search of the co-conspirator inmate. They found a cellphone, charging cables, a USB charging brick, 92 counterfeit oxycodone pills, 174 Suboxone strips, and over three grams of cocaine in the inmate’s long underwear.
After learning about the seizure, Sanford removed his identifying details from the CashApp account used for bribe payments and cut off communication with his co-conspirators. Shortly thereafter, Sanford began resigning from his position, citing childcare issues as the reason for his departure.
Sanford is currently detained and will remain so until his sentencing on September 18. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts of his conviction. Federal sentences are usually less than the maximum, with the final decision resting with a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
