United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Baltimore, Maryland – Two Baltimore men are facing indictment, today, stemming from a federal drug-trafficking takedown operation.

Charles “Bok” Byers, 48, and Darryl “DJ” Hairston, Jr., 48, who operated a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Baltimore, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime in connection with the takedown. Byers and Hairston are also charged with illegally possessing three loaded firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Both co-conspirators are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to prior convictions.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Sheriff Sam Cogen, Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). 

According to the indictment, law enforcement found that Byers and Hairston possessed and conspired to traffic 400 grams or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, along with a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (“crack” cocaine). Court documents state that beginning in May 2026, investigators observed Byers consistently purchasing large quantities of cutting agents, such as quinine and mannitol, along with drug-packaging materials, from a Baltimore County store. The investigation revealed that this usually indicated that the DTO had recently received a bulk supply of narcotics. 

Then investigators observed Byers taking the drugs and supplies to a Northeast Baltimore stash house for processing.  Byers and/or Hairston then transported the processed drugs to different locations, often including an open-air street shop, that Hairston oversaw, on Druid Hill Avenue in West Baltimore. 

After bringing the narcotics to the street shop, the co-conspirators allegedly put the drugs in a secondary indoor stash location or at an outdoor ground stash for his subordinates, who were teenagers, to distribute.  During the investigation, agents observed adolescent males conducting hand-to-hand transactions at the street shop.  Shortly after law enforcement identified the Druid Hill street shop, an undercover agent began conducting controlled purchases of larger quantities of drugs from Hairston directly. 

Later, state and local law enforcement executed search warrants at stash locations in July and August, respectively. Then on Sept. 22, agents executed federal arrest and search warrants for multiple locations and vehicles linked to Byers, Hairston, and other DTO members. When law enforcement executed the arrest warrants, the co-conspirators immediately began smashing all cell phones in their possession. 

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered thousands of gel capsules of confirmed and suspected fentanyl, multiple kilograms of powdered confirmed and suspected fentanyl, confirmed and suspected crack cocaine, and confirmed and suspected powder cocaine, along with several firearms. Agents also found bags of suspected fentanyl marked “East Side” and “West Side” at a stash location searched on Sept. 22.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. 

If convicted, Byers and Hairston face a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for both the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and the possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as a minimum of five years and a maximum of life for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Byers and Hairston are also facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. 

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, ATF, FBI, BPD, BCSO, DPSCS, and BCPD for their work in the investigation, along with the Natural Resources Police and Howard County Police Department, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and Ty Pittinger who are prosecuting this federal case.