Ronald Byrd, 37, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 22 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for his involvement in the armed carjacking of a FedEx truck and related drug and firearm offenses. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer.
Byrd and Saikeen Dixon, 33, were charged in September 2023 following an incident that occurred in August 2022. Both men were convicted at trial earlier this year on charges including carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Byrd was also found guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and later pleaded guilty to an additional firearms charge. Dixon received a sentence last month exceeding 12 years in prison.
Court documents show that on August 9, 2022, a package was shipped from California to Temple Hospital in Philadelphia addressed to “Universal Medical Inc.” The next day, while delivering packages at Temple Hospital, FedEx driver J.H. received repeated requests for the package from former employee P.A., who even offered $5,000 for it. After supervisors intervened and secured the package onto another FedEx van, J.H. proceeded with deliveries nearby.
A black Jeep Cherokee followed J.H.’s FedEx truck as he left the hospital area toward the distribution center at Grays Ferry Avenue. At a stoplight near the facility, Dixon drove the Jeep ahead of the truck while Byrd exited with a pistol and approached J.H., who fled into traffic. Byrd then took control of the FedEx truck but abandoned it after being unable to access its cargo area.
Authorities later searched the sought-after package after a narcotics K9 alerted them to it. Inside they discovered over nine kilograms of cocaine wrapped in plastic packages labeled “DSQUARED2,” with an estimated street value around $500,000.
“The defendant was willing to get his shipment of cocaine by any means necessary, stalking and carjacking a FedEx truck at gunpoint on a busy Philly street,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He did all of this in broad daylight — while on supervised release for a prior federal drug conviction. Ronald Byrd is clearly a danger to our community with zero regard for the law. This sentence both holds him accountable and makes the city safer.”
“This defendant’s conduct placed Philadelphia residents at risk,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s result was made possible by the tireless efforts of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Together, we remain resolute in disrupting violent criminal activity, preventing further harm, and delivering justice for the victims and communities affected by violence.”
The investigation involved collaboration between multiple agencies including FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force; Philadelphia Police Department; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation; and prosecution by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Bowerman.
