Jury Finds Former Pittsburgh Man Guilty of Possession of Contraband in Prison

PITTSBURGH - After deliberating thirty-five minutes, a federal jury of six men and six women found James Taric Byrd guilty of one count of possession of contraband in prison, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Byrd, age 46, was tried before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Byrd, while an inmate at the Allegheny County Jail, possessed a cellular telephone, which is a prohibited object inside the Allegheny County Jail.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2023 The law provides for a total sentence of one years in prison, a fine of $100,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Allegheny County Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshal Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Byrd.