Two Huntingdon County Drug Traffickers Sentenced to a Combined Total of Over 500 Months in Federal Prison

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that Richard Byrd, a/k/a “Mook,” age 28, and Clifton Shields, age 31, both of Baltimore, Maryland, and Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge William W. Caldwell for conspiracy to distribute and posses with intent to distribute heroin and at least 50 grams of crack cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin and at least 50 grams of crack cocaine. Judge Caldwell sentenced Byrd to a 151-month term of imprisonment and sentenced Shields to a 360-month term of imprisonment.

According to U.S. Attorney Carlson, in the summer of 2008, the Pennsylvania State Police and Huntingdon County Drug Task Force officers began an investigation into the trafficking of crack cocaine. Police made several controlled drug purchases and based upon information gather from surveillance, confidential informant statements and the controlled purchases, officers determined that Byrd, Shields and co-defendant Laura Shope were packaging and storing crack cocaine and heroin in a hotel room in Henderson Township. A search warrant was executed, and officers found 3.65 grams of heroin; 20.7 grams of crack cocaine; 5.46 grams of marijuana; a .38 caliber revolver and several materials involved with the packaging of drugs. All three individuals were arrested at that time.

Co-defendant Laura Shope was also sentenced last month to a 100-month term of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police; Huntingdon County Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.

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