Brothers Sentenced To 10 Years for Dealing Cocaine

Two brothers were sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 

Harold Byrd, 26, of Phoenix, MD, and Joseph Byrd, 34 of Owings Mills, were also sentenced to five years supervised probation Monday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.

The sentences were part of a plea agreement stemming from the April 22 seizure of 5 kilograms of cocaine from each of the brothers' homes. The value of the cocaine was estimated at $150,000, according to a statement released by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

Police also seized three handguns, an AK-47 and four sets of body armor from Harold Byrd’s home. The brothers admitted their involvement and Joseph Byrd told federal authorities that he frequently visited his brother’s home and stored weapons there, according to the statement.

Police also recovered 73 black plastic containers from Harold Byrd’s home. The containers are believed to have been used in transporting large quantities of marijuana from Arizona to Maryland. Approximately 500 pounds of marijuana was seized in a related raid on a third home in Baltimore, according to the statement issued by Rosenstein’s office.

The brothers were also found to be in possession of a number of driver’s licenses in various names that bore their photographs, according to the statement.