Six men were charged with trafficking millions of dollars in methamphetamine and cocaine by concealing them inside Bluetooth karaoke speakers and shipping them from California to Bucks County, District Attorney Jennifer Schorn announced on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

This multifaceted investigation by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Attorney General’s Office resulted in the dismantling of the Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization, led by Matthew James Byrne, 43, of Broomall, Delaware County. The organization shipped approximately $5 million in drugs over the past six months, Schorn said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. 

The investigation found that Matthew Byrne made several trips to Los Angeles, either once or twice a month this year, solely to purchase cocaine and methamphetamine to fuel the drug empire. Investigators say he purchased drugs in California because of its proximity to Mexico and the lower cost of illegal drugs.

Byrne’s cross-country trips to Los Angeles lasted only two to three days. In that time, Byrne met with narcotics brokers to purchase drugs, smuggled them inside Bluetooth speakers or homemade wooden boxes and then shipped them to Pennsylvania providing fake names as the recipients of the packages.

Narcotics detectives tracked 12 shipments to locations in Bristol Township and Montgomery County, each parcel containing hundreds of thousands of dollars in drugs. Most of the packages were delivered to his brother’s home on Gable Hill Road in Bristol Township.

During the investigation, three of the shipments were intercepted by authorities at the United Parcel Service’s Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Nearly $1.2 million in cocaine and methamphetamine was found stashed inside the three intercepted Bluetooth speakers.

Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization

“The men and women in law enforcement who worked this case and continue to work this case should be praised for unearthing extensive evidence that establishes this was a very complex and incredibly profitable drug trafficking organization,” District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. “One can only imagine how many lives were spared by the interception of these dangerous drugs.” 

“I hope the outcome of this investigation serves to warn drug dealers in our community that you will be identified, caught, and prosecuted for your crimes and we will not tolerate criminal enterprises that profit from those who suffer from addiction.”

On Monday, Matthew Byrne and his brother Joseph Byrne, 47, along with Khalik Kemp, 34, of Philadelphia, and Christian Garwood, 55 of Flourtown, Montgomery County, were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Terrence Hughes.

They were all committed to Bucks County Correctional Facility, Matthew Byrne on $5 million bail, Joseph Byrne and Kemp on $3 million bail, and Garwood on $1 million bail.

Two other men in California - Ralph Brooks, 42 of Los Angeles, and Chaz Harness-Walker, 40 of Inglewood – are also charged. They are not yet in custody.

The members of the drug trafficking organization face charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy to dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and criminal use of a communication facility.

Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization

“This case shows there are no limits to the lengths traffickers will go to make a profit dealing poisons that devastate families and communities,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “This multimillion-dollar network involved monthly cross-country trips to California where buys were made, and shipments were arranged back to the Commonwealth. Great collaboration by law enforcement partners interrupted this sophisticated organization and closed a cocaine and methamphetamine pipeline.”

During this complex and lengthy investigation, detectives used a variety of methods to gather evidence against the organization, including tracking travel records, intercepting communications, and conducting surveillance in both California and Pennsylvania.

In one of the intercepted communications, one member of the drug organization described the quality of the cocaine they were getting from California as “slamming” and “powerful.”

Through the investigation, detectives were able to identify members of the drug organization and their roles, which included distributors, transporters, storage coordinators, street-level traffickers, and narcotics brokers.

Also, during the investigation, detectives recovered two Bluetooth speakers used in the operation. The speakers had been emptied, but tests confirmed a positive result for cocaine residue inside.

On July 18, detectives executed search warrants at several residences connected with the investigation in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, seizing cocaine and other drugs, drug paraphernalia, four guns, and more than $20,000 in cash.

Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization

The investigation remains active and ongoing. 

“The partnership between HSI Philadelphia and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is truly outstanding. Through our cooperative efforts we have dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking organization and brought four of its principal members to justice,’ said HSI Philadelphia Assistant Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas.  “We would like to thank the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, the Liberty Mid-Atlantic Area HIDTA, and all of the Philadelphia El Dorado Task Force partners that contributed to the enforcement operations leading to today’s successful result.” 

District Attorney Schorn also wanted to thank everyone involved in this collaborative effort to take down the large-scale drug trafficking organization.

“I commend the detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Drug Strike Force and County Detectives, agents with Homeland Security Investigations, agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and detectives and their K-9 partners with the Louisville Metro Police Department,” she said. “Investigations into Drug Trafficking Organizations are challenging, incredibly time-consuming and dangerous.” 

The Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Attorney General’s Office led this investigation and were assisted by the Louisville Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bristol Township Police Department, Middletown Township Police Department, Radnor Township Police Department, Whitemarsh Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Philadelphia Police Department, Montgomery County Detectives and Delaware County Detectives.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon and Deputy District Attorney John T. Fegley are assigned for prosecution.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.