The defense attorney for a Baltimore man charged in connection with allegedly overseeing a cross-country drug operation says federal authorities are now accusing him of running a heroin ring in a Washington jail while awaiting trial.
Attorney David Solomon filed papers last week in which he asked that authorities prove their contentions that Richard Byrd was running the ring in the Central Treatment Facility in Southeast Washington and that Byrd reached out to a government witness "in an effort to sway or" intimidate the witness.
Byrd has been held on lockdown status since March 30 based on the allegations, Solomon said.
"The defendant is requesting a hearing on this matter to force the United States Attorney's Office to provide concrete and verifiable intelligence that Mr. Byrd has violated rules and regulations at the Central Treatment Facility, to wit, that he has engaged in a heroin distribution ring within the institution and/or that he had a role in reaching out to the as yet unidentified witness," Solomon wrote.
The government has not filed a response. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.
Byrd, who was indicted in 2014 on charges of conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine and marijuana, is scheduled for trial in September.
Prosecutors say he headed an organization that obtained drugs from suppliers in Arizona, Texas and California and sold them in Maryland, Ohio, Georgia and elsewhere.
They say the organization used freight companies to ship drugs across country and laundered proceeds through banks and businesses.
Byrd has contended he amassed his wealth as a promoter who held events with musicians and athletes in major cities across the country.
Prosecutors want a judge to make Byrd forfeit more than $1 million in cash and nine vehicles. Byrd has alleged misconduct by prosecutors and police during the probe, which dates to 2009.
Byrd's case has been delayed multiple times as he has changed attorneys. Numerous documents in the case are under seal.
Byrd was charged along with five co-defendants, all of whom have pleaded guilty. Rasan Byrd was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, Maurice Jones was sentenced to seven years, and Richard Drummond received two years.
Two other co-defendants, Kimberly Reid and James Bowie, await sentencing.