Ohio Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Interstate Heroin Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JASON PAYNE, age 37, a resident of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced PAYNE to 140 months in prison, five years of supervised release following his prison term, and a $100 special assessment.

According to court documents, a series of court-authorized wiretaps on the cell phones of New Orleans area heroin dealers led Drug Enforcement Administration agents to identify co-defendant FREDRICK DOUGLAS BROOKS III as a Houston-based heroin trafficker who was distributing kilogram quantities of heroin in New Orleans and other markets through drug and bulk cash couriers.  PAYNE was identified as a major customer in Ohio and indicted in New Orleans as part of the conspiracy.  PAYNE acknowledged in court documents that he had purchased 2 kilograms of heroin from BROOKS’ network in February 2014 and another 3 kilograms in April 2014.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann was in charge of the prosecution.