UTICA, NEW YORK – Leon Byrd, a/k/a “Paul Edwards,” 61, a Jamaican national living in Winthrop, New York, was sentenced today to time served (26 months in prison) for his role in distributing and possessing approximately 1.8 kilograms of cocaine and 29 grams of methamphetamine.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, DEA Special Agent in Charge for the New York Division, announced Byrd’s sentence following his guilty plea. Byrd admitted to working with a drug trafficking organization led by Troy Dean and Maijia Scott, transporting drugs from major cities to St. Lawrence County.
In June 2023, police raided Dean and Scott’s Winthrop home, where they found Byrd. They seized 1,500 grams of cocaine, 29 grams of meth, and $26,597 in cash.
Byrd once held permanent U.S. resident status, which expired in 2004. Dean has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing, while Scott’s trial is scheduled for December. Sarcone emphasized Byrd’s illegal presence in the U.S., noting his impending deportation after prison.
Tarentino highlighted the DEA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, emphasizing the threat these drugs pose to communities. The investigation was conducted with New York State Police assistance under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program.
For more information on the OCDETF Program, visit https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
RELATED: Jamaican Drug Kingpin Leon Byrd Sentenced in Utica
Related Federal Cases
- King Convicted in Mafia-Linked Drug Ring · New York
- Brooklyn Gun Kingpin Khyle Williams Faces 176 Charges · Georgia
- Bausch and Lannett Hit with $17.85M Fine for Generic Drug Price Fixing · New York
- Queens Ghost Gun Kingpin Sentenced to Over Nine Years · Indiana
- Central NY Drug Ring Busted: 17 Face Charges · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News