A man from Ashburn, Va., admitted guilt in federal court today to illegally possessing just over a kilogram of cocaine while traveling by bus from Nevada to Virginia.
Kareem M. Strong, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.
On December 13, 2023, officers found Strong carrying a black backpack at the bus station. Inside, they discovered a heat-sealed brick of white powder stamped with “ROLEX.” Strong, who was traveling from Nevada to Virginia, was stopped by interdiction task force members and arrested. Testing at the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory confirmed the brick, weighing 1,004.73 grams, contained cocaine in salt form.
Under federal law, Strong faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence, provided here for informational purposes, while the court will determine the final sentence based on advisory guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the United States Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh is prosecuting the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department conducted the investigation.
