RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced
today that MARCUS DORRELL BYRD, 42, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was
sentenced to life plus 25 years followed by 10 years of supervised release. A
federal jury convicted BYRD on all 5 counts contained in a criminal indictment
on August 7, 2014. Charges consisted of drug and firearms offenses including
conspiracy to distribute in excess of 5 kilograms of cocaine, distribution of
cocaine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
During the four day trial, the government presented evidence
that between on or about 2009, through on or about June 24, 2011, BYRD
conspired with others in the Fayetteville area to distribute in excess of 30
kilograms of cocaine. Further, evidence was also presented of several
controlled sales of cocaine by the defendant to a confidential informant.
During a search of BYRD’s apartment by law enforcement, officers found him in
possession of a loaded 9mm handgun, over $15,000 in US currency, a cocaine
press, and several digital scales. BRYD’s prior convictions enhanced his
sentence today. He was previously convicted of instigating a riot at the
Federal Correctional Institution in Talladega, Alabama in 1995. He also has
prior drug and firearms convictions.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)
initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in
a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who
continually plague their communities.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Fayetteville Police
Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ethan A. Ontjes and Carrie Randa
prosecuted the case for the government.
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