News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2006

East Hartford Man Sentenced To More Than 8 Years In Prison For Cocaine Conspiracy

June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THOMAS BYRD, age 52, of Cannon Road, East Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 97 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and distribution of, more than 500 grams of cocaine. BYRD pleaded guilty to the offense on January 10, 2005.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, BYRD was involved in a Middletown, Connecticut-based cocaine trafficking ring from September 2003 through early February 2004. When he pleaded guilty, BYRD admitted that he transported multiple kilogram quantities of cocaine to Connecticut from Chicago, Illinois and Springfield, Virginia. BYRD’s role in the conspiracy was to drive a vehicle, which had a secret compartment or “trap,” back to Connecticut with the cocaine hidden inside. BYRD admitted negotiating his fee by the number of kilos being transported on each occasion. BYRD received a fee only for the first trip, from Chicago to Connecticut, because his co-conspirators were arrested the morning after the second trip, shortly after they and the cocaine had arrived in Connecticut from Virginia.

In total, BYRD admitted that he was responsible for transporting between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine to Connecticut.

This case was investigated by members of a Drug Enforcement Agency and a Task Force consisting of federal agents and members of several local police departments.