Trio charged in Columbia drug conspiracy waived rights at hearing

A trio of men charged in a massive drug conspiracy are expected to appear at a detention hearing Thursday.

Carl Rye, Byron Rye, and James Dennis Smith, Jr. have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. All three waived their rights to their preliminary and detention hearings Thursday.

According to the U.S Attorney's Office, the DEA has been investigating the men since August 2014 on suspicion they were distributing marijuana and steroids. Federal agents claim the men had possession and planned to distribute at least 700 kilograms of marijuana.

They will not get another chance at a preliminary hearing; however, detention hearings, which determine if bond will be set, can always be requested at a later time.

The DEA has been investigating the men for the last three years on suspicion that they were distributing marijuana and steroids. This after a witness reported seeing the two brothers, Bryon and Carl, packaging around $200,000 while in the home on Rosewood drive where the raid took place, allegedly to be sent to Dennis Smith.

When authorities confiscated the package, it contained magazines with Bryon's name and address.

The three men were also tied to a storage unit where federal agents confiscated 28 pounds of marijuana. Plus, Police discovered a plane, owned by Smith, that made several stops to the Owens Airport in Columbia.

The reason this plane is so suspicious is investigators say that Smith's trips to airport are on the same days that Bryon accessed his safe-deposit box.

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