Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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.

###