Leon Byrd, also known as Paul Edwards, a 61-year-old Jamaican citizen residing in Winthrop, New York, was sentenced to time served—equivalent to 26 months in prison—for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute about 1.8 kilograms of cocaine and 29 grams of methamphetamine.
The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
Byrd had previously pleaded guilty and admitted that between September 2022 and June 2023 he worked with a drug trafficking organization led by Troy Dean and Maijia Scott. The group trafficked cocaine from New York City and methamphetamine from California into the Winthrop area of St. Lawrence County, New York. Byrd distributed cocaine on behalf of Dean and Scott when they were unavailable.
On June 22, 2023, police executed a search warrant at the residence shared by Dean, Scott, and Byrd in Winthrop. Authorities seized approximately 1,500 grams of cocaine, about 29 grams of methamphetamine, and $26,597 in cash during the operation.
Byrd’s permanent U.S. resident status lapsed in 2004 after he overstayed his lawful status for nearly two decades.
Troy Dean has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Maijia Scott’s case is scheduled for trial in December; she remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Leon Byrd was permitted to legally enter this country, overstayed his lawful status by about 20 years, and involved himself in cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. After he’s released from prison, he will face deportation and will not be allowed to return to the United States. We will continue to rid this country of foreign nationals who seek to distribute poisonous drugs in our communities.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “This case underscores the threat posed by traffickers who distribute both cocaine and methamphetamine into our communities. These drugs fuel addiction and violence, and the DEA will remain focused on dismantling the networks that bring them into New York.”
The DEA investigated this case with help from the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted it as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation—a program designed to identify, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among multiple agencies led by prosecutors using intelligence-driven strategies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
