A federal judge yesterday granted a motion for accused drug trafficker Joe Daniels Jr. to be sent to a halfway house until his case is adjudicated.

Daniels, a founder of the reggae and hip-hop musical group B.E.T., or Big Every Time, was charged Feb. 11 with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine after federal agents intercepted two FedEx packages from Los Angeles containing 50 pounds of meth and conducted a controlled delivery operation.

Daniels and co-defendants Junior Auelua and Lauolefisa Afo will appear March 17 before District Judge Leslie Kobayashi for a final pre-trial conference.

Judge J. Michael Seabright yesterday granted a motion for Daniels to be transferred from the Federal Detention Center, where he has been held since his arrest, to a halfway house when bed space becomes available. Attorney Art Ross, who represents Daniels, expects his client to be at a halfway house by mid-March.

Ross said the halfway house move is with "severe restrictions" that satisfy Seabright's two major concerns of public safety and flight risk. Daniels will not be allowed to make public entertainment appearances or phone calls, among other restrictions, Ross said.