Philadelphia Drug Dealer Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Federal Prison

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison and four years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Malik Byers, 29, of Philadelphia, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, from July 5, 2018 and continuing thereafter to on or about May 5, 2020, Byers conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack. Further, Byers conspired to commit money laundering.

Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

OCDETF conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Byers. The task force is headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and is comprised of members drawn from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Indiana Borough Police Department.