The Columbus concert promoter who worked with a homeless man who became famous because of his voice was arrested last month, accused of bringing heroin into the country from Africa. Alfred Battle was stopped July 17 after he arrived at the Newark, New Jersey airport with what authorities said was 18 pounds of heroin in his carry-on bag.

The Columbus concert promoter who worked with a homeless man who became famous because of his voice was arrested last month, accused of bringing heroin into the country from Africa.

Alfred Battle was stopped July 17 after he arrived at the Newark, New Jersey airport with what authorities said was 18 pounds of heroin in his carry-on bag.

Battle, 60, who was on a flight originating in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was ushered into a private inspection room after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent noticed Battle's bag seemed to be heavy. Customs agents said they found a false bottom in the bag that hid the heroin.

Battle, who owns Battle Plan Promotions in Columbus, served as the first agent for Ted Williams, a Columbus homeless man who became famous for his "golden" broadcasting voice after a Dispatch video of him went viral in 2011. They went to New York, Los Angeles and other cities together as Williams did television shows and speaking engagements.

That relationship lasted a few months, until Williams switched agents.

When Battle was arrested at the New Jersey airport, the case "was given to us with a bow on it," said Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority police.

According to customs agents, the heroin had a street value of $512,000. Battle, who lives on Columbus' East Side, is charged with possession of a controlled and dangerous substance and distribution of heroin. He is being held in the Essex County jail in New Jersey.

Bail has been set at $500,000, according to Essex County prosecutor's office spokeswoman Katherine Carter. She said he has pleaded not guilty.

dchenoweth@dispatch.com

@DoralChenoweth